CalumWa  (Hnitimftp 

THE  LIBRARIES 


Bequest  of 

Frederic  Bancroft 

1860-1945 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 

OF   THE 

Baptists  of  Southeast 
Missouri. 

EMBRACING  : 

An  Account  of  the  First  Baptist  Families  of  the  Great  West; 
the  First  Churches;  the  First  Associations,  and  Biograph- 
ical Sketches  of  the  First  Ministers.     Including  an 
Account  of  the  twelve  Associations  of  Churches, 
and  the  Ministers  going  out  from  these  First 
Baptist  Churches  from  1796 to  1886.  The 
Founding  of  the  First  Institution  of 
Learning  under  Baptist  Patron- 
age in  Southeast  Missouri. 
The  First  Baptist  Pe- 
riodical and   other 
Important  Matter. 

By  H.  F.  TONG, 

With  an  Introduction  by 

^VM.  H.  MAYFIELD.  M.  D., 

Of  St.  Louis,  Mo. 


ST.  LOUIS,  MO.  : 

NATIONAL  BAPTIST  PUBLISHING  CO., 

1888. 


b. 


H.  F.  TONQ 


PREFACE. 

The  sketches  comprising  this  volume  were  writ- 
ten at  the  solicitations  of  many  brethren  and 
friends  of  Southeast  Missouri,  this  being  the 
empire  ground,  or  district,  from  which  the 
great  Baptist  family  (now  numbering  nearly 
one  hundred  thousand  in  the  State)  started 
forth ;  having  first  planted  here  the  standard  of 
gospel  truth  and  soul-liberty,  which  finally  struck 
the  last  blow  to  Papal  power  in  these  American 
States  and  Territories.  Feeling  it  but  a  just  pride 
of  the  Baptists,  of  Southeast  Missouri,  to  preserve, 
as  a  memorial,  a  combination  of  historic  sketches 
in  book  form ;  thereby  preserving  their  high  appre- 
ciation of  the  labors,  (oils  and  sacrifices  of  the 
fathersy  who  were  the  first  instruments,  under 
God,  in  the  establishment  of  the  great  cause  of 
Christ  and  soul-liberty  in  the  wilderness  of  the 
great  West,  A  fact  to  be  transmitted  to  their 
children  and  the  generations  to  come,  reminding 
them  that  it  was  here,  in  Southeast  Missouri,  that 
fhis  great  work  first  began  :  the  first  sermons  were 
preached  ;  the  first  house  of  worship  was  built ; 


11  PREFACE. 

the  first  refusal  to  comply  with  Roman  edicts 
west  of  the  great  river ;  the  first  churches  were 
established,  and  the  first  Baptist  Association  was 
organized. 

These  facts  are  not  gathered  from  tradition, 
but  from  written  testimony  preserved  by  individ- 
uals, church  records,  and  Minutes  of  associa- 
tions. They  furnish  a  continuous  train  of  dates  in 
connection  with  the  events  and  circumstances 
mentioned  in  the  sketches,  which  the  writer,- after 
two  years  of  the  most  assiduous  labor  and  toil, 
has  sought  to  gather  and  compile  at  the  request 
of  brethren  whose  hearts  seem  to  be  knit  to- 
gether with  those  who  have  gone  before. 

He  disclaims  any  merit  for  discharging  a  dut}' 
so  full  of  interest  and  pleasure,  and  desires  here 
to  tender  his  sincere  thanks  to  the  many  brethren 
and  friends  who  have  aided  him  by  their  writings, 
manuscripts  preserved,  and  Minutes  of  associa- 
tions sent  or  handed  him.  In  particular,  he 
would  mention  Eld.  William  Polk,  of  fronton  ; 
Eld.  Pinkney  Graham,  of  Castor  Church,  Madi- 
son county  ;  E.  L.  Graham,  Esq.,  of  Twelve  Mile 
Church,  with  many  others,  too  numerous  to  men- 
tion. Also,  he  acknowledges  much  aid  from 
sketches  gathered  by  Bro.  R.  S.  Duncan,  in  the 
History  of  Missouri  Baptists,  and  from  Minutes 


PREFACE.  Ill 

furnished  by  Miss  Rachel  Adams,  of  Mt.  Carmel 
Church. 

Hoping  that  all  will  remember  that  he  submits 
this  with  affectionate  consideration  for  their  la- 
bors, and  praying  that  God's  blessings  may  go 
with  this  little  volume  and  give  it  a  welcome  re- 
ception with  all ;  and  that  it  may  accomplish 
good,  he  sends  it  forth. 

Respectfully,         H.  F.  Tong. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  history  of  the  Southeast  Missouri  Baptists 
is  as  important  to  them  as  the  history  of  Great 
Britain  is  to  the  English.  No  man  can  write  that 
history  except  he  be  one  of  the  actors  in  it. 
Such  is  truly  the  case  in  the  one  whose  pen  has 
compiled  the  facts  contained  in  this  book.  God 
calls  men  to  do  work,  and,  I  believe,  God  called 
Bro.  Tong  to  do  this  work  ;  because  He  led  him 
through  a  long  series  of  events,  for  over  a  third 
of  a  century,  and  filled  his  fertile  mind  with 
facts  that  must  be  recorded.  Bro.  Tong  is  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  true  and  tried. 
The  writer  of  this  note  has  been  intimately  con- 
nected with  him  for  twenty  years.  Through  all 
this  time  I  have  seen  him  stand  up  for  God  and 
the  right.  Religion,  good  morals,  higher  educa- 
tion of  heart  and  head,  an  honest,  upright  life  on 
Sunday  and  all  the  rest  of  the  week,  have  been 
fully  exemplified  in  this  brother's  life  and  labors. 

Bro.  H.  F.  Tong  was  born  in  Mine  La  Motte, 
Madison  county,  Mo.,  Nov.  6th,  1836,  and  raised 
in   that  county.      His  father,  Henry  D.    Tong, 


VI  INTRODUCTIOX. 

a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  the  eleventh  of  thh'- 
teen  sons  of  Wm.  Tong,  who  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Revolution  and  a  native  of  Maryland.  In  the 
year  1820,  his  grandfather  came  to  Missouri.  His 
mother  was  Miss  Minerva  Allen,  of  Madison 
county,  Mo.  They  were  both  members  of  the 
Baptist  church.  His  father  Avas  a  zealous  Chris- 
tian worker  in  prayer  and  exhortation.  The  Tong 
family  before  this  were  Episcopalians.  Bro. 
Tong  only  received  a  common  school  education — 
only  spent  three  months  in  college  at  Arcadia,  ]\Io. , 
near  Ironton.  His  father  being  a  farmer,  natur- 
ally taught  his  boy  to  work,  which,  by  the  way, 
is  one  of  the  most  important  lessons  of  a  secular 
nature. 

He  found  Christ  precious  to  his  soul  in  June, 
1849,  at  the  age  of  14  years.  He  often  says: 
"I  never  shall  forget  the  day  that  Jesus  washed 
my  sins  away,"  Four  years  later  he  was  bap- 
tized into  the  fellowship  of  Pendleton  Baptist 
church,  St.  Francois  county.  Mo.,  by  the  beloved 
Elder  Wm.  Polk,  and  began  preaching  in  March, 
1855.  In  March,  1858,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Christiana  H.  Jones,  of  Madison  count}^ 
Mo.  For  seven  years  he  endured  great  affliction 
and  many  sore  trials  in  consequence  of  his  sick- 
ness and  inabilitv.     On  this  account  he  refused 


INTRODUCTION.  Vll 

to  be  ordained  to  the  ministry,  but  gave  all  his 
spare  time  to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  and 
study  of  the  grand  principles  of  the  Bible.  In 
November,  1867,  he  was  set  apart  to  the  ministry 
by  the  order  of  Bethel  Baptist  church,  by  Elder 
Robert  C.  Mortin,  the  pastor,  and  others.  In  1869, 
he  removed  to  Bollinger  county.  Mo.,  and,  in 
June  of  the  same  year,  organized  the  Mt.  Carmel 
Baptist  church,  assisted  by  Elder  Pinkney  Gra- 
liam.  He  has  resided  near  there  most  of  the 
time  since.  Out  of  these  seventeen  years  he  has 
served  this  church  as  pastor  thirteen  years ;  two 
of  the  remaining  years  he  served  as  District  Mis- 
sionary of  St.  Francois  Association,  and  one  year 
as  General  Financial  Agent  for  the  May  field-Smith 
Academy.  In  1880  he  organized  the  Little  White 
Water  church  at  Mayfield,  Mo.  ;  also  Bethel 
church,  Patton,  Mo.,  and  aided  in  ordaining  ten 
ministers,  and  helped  organize  several  other 
churches,  and  helped  to  set  apart  a  number  of 
deacons.  He  has  served  as  pastor  of  the  following- 
churches  :  Castor  (now  First  Baptist  church  of 
Marquand),  Shady  Grove,  Marble  Hill,  Mosley, 
Trace  Creek  and  Mt.  Zion  (now  New  Salem.) 
He  has  been  honored  as  Moderator  of  the  St. 
Francois  Baptist  Association  at  different  times. 
In  the  midst  of  political  confusion,  or  religious 


Vlll  INTRODUCTIOX. 

strife,  he  has  always  held  the  pul)lic  confidence ; 
has  always  drawn  large  crowds  of  people,  and  his 
labors  have  been  greatly  blessed.  Patience,  for- 
bearance, and  a  strong  love  for  souls,  are  charac- 
teristics of  our  beloved  H.  F.  Toug. 

I  esteem  it  an  honor  to  give  you  this  brief 
sketch  of  the  life  and  labors  of  my  former  pastor. 
He  has  brought  forth  the  memory  of  many  of 
God's  noble  servants,  who  have  long  since  gone 
home,  and,  but  for  this  book,  would  be  known  no 
more.  We  here  have  their  blessed  example. 
This  ought  to  stimulate  each  of  us  to  higher 
aims  and  more  active  work  for  the  Lord.  You 
are  making  a  history.  How  do  you  want  it  to 
read  in  the  sight  of  your  fellows  ?  God  knows  it 
all.  May  He  give  you  grace,  grit  and  go-ahead- 
ativeness  enough  to  act  your  part  of  the  future 
in  such  a  way  as  will  honor  God  and  benefit  your 
fellowman. 

Mrs.  Christiana  H.  Tong,  wife  of  the  author  of 
these  sketches,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Delila 
Jones,  was  a  native  of  Madison  county,  this  state. 
She  was  born  Jan.  20th,  1837  ;  was  converted  and 
baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  the  Bethany  Bap- 
tist church,  under  the  ministry  of  the  beloved 
Wm.  Polk,  in  the  year  1855.  From  this  time 
forward     she    was   faithful     and    true    to    her 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

• 

church,  as  well  as  to  her  famil}^,  and  all  who 
needed  befriending,  who  called  at  her  gate,  were 
never  turned  away  without  proffered  aid,  at  least. 
She  made  the  doctrines,  precepts  and  examples  of 
Christ  the  ornaments  of  her  beautiful  and  im- 
pressive life.  By  her  remembrances  she  aided 
much  in  these  sketches.  She  died  April  27th, 
1888,  saying,  among  her  last  words:  *^ Oh,  that 
I  could  be  at  rest ; "  to  which  she  soon  w^ent 
with  the  smiles  of  beauty  and  peace  resting 
on  her  face.  When  asked  if  she  had  any- 
thing to  submit  to  these  sketches,  she  pro- 
duced the  following,  which  is  here  given,  saying: 
**This,  sir,  is  all ;  this  is  for  you  and  me." 

THEY  ARE  GROWING  OLD  TOGETHER. 

They  are  growing  old  together, 

Spring  and  summer  time  have  fled, 
Fled  with  bud  and  bloom  forever, 

As  the  autumn  tints  are  shed. 
They  have  wreathed  the  May-day  blossoms. 

They  have  plucked  the  flowers  of  June, 
They  have  seen  the  last  sheaves  gathered 

Underneath  the  harvest  moon. 

They  are  growing  old  together, 

They  are  fading  side  by  side ; 
There  are  seams  they  cannot  cover, 

There  are  scars  they  cannot  hide ; 
And  they  bear  the  silent  record 

Of  many  a  care  and  loss ; 


IXTKODUCTIOX. 

Of  many  a  toilsome  day's  march, 
And  many  a  weighty  cross. 

They  are  growing  old  together, 

They  have  counted  many  a  mile  ; 
They  have  cheered  and  helped  each  other, 

Over  many  a  broken  stile. 
And  when  grief's  quivering  arrows, 

In  their  stricken  hearts  sank  deep, 
They  have  stifled  each  other's  sorrows 

That  the  other  might  not  weep. 

They  are  growing  old  together, 

As  they  journey  down  the  hill, 
Soon  their  feet  must  near  the  river, 

With  the  waters  deep  and  chill ; 
Where  the  phantom  ship  will  anchor, 

To  embark  her  spirit  freight ; 
And  one  of  them  will  sail  with  her, 

And  the  other  have  to  wait. 

But  soon  the  day  will  come, 

When  the  other  has  to  go, 
And  then  they  hope  to  meet. 

Where  beloved  part  no  more. 

W.  H.  IVIayfield, 


THE  FIRST  SETTLEMENTS  OF  MISSOURI. 

Some  two  hundred  and  four  years  ago,  the 
great  valley  of  the  Mississippi  was  formerly 
taken  possession  of  by  Robert  Cavelier  De  la  Salle, 
a  Frenchman,  who,  in  1G82,  took  formal  posses- 
sion of  the  country  near  the  mouth  of  the  great 
river,  Mississippi.  By  this  act  the  King  of 
France  claimed  dominion  of  almost  the  whole 
of  the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  Avhich  was 
called  the  Province  of  Louisiana;  and  so  con- 
tinued his  claim  until,  in  1763,  eighty-one 
years  after  the  country  was  first  claimed, 
France  relinquished  her  claim  to  all  the  country 
east  of  the  great  river.  Forty  years  after  this  act 
in  1803,  France  ceded  the  province  of  Louisiana 
to  the  United  States,  and  in  March,  1804, 
all  of  upper  Louisiana;  after  which  all  this 
vast  Territory  north  of  the  Southern  boundary  of 
Arkansas  and  west  of  the  Mississippi,  was  called, 
by  Congress,  the  District  of  Louisiana.  It  was 
afterwards  called  the  Territory  of  Louisiana,  and 
still  later  the  Territory  of  Missouri,  which,  last 
name  was  given  in  1812.   It  included  in  its  bounds 


I  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

the  jiresent  States  and  Territories  of  Missouri, 
Arkansas,  Iowa,  Nebraska  and  Oregon,  and  the 
larger  parts  of  Kansas  and  Minnesota;  also 
Washington,  Montana,  Idaho,  Dakota,  and  many 
parts  of  Wyoming,  Colorado  and  Indian  Terri- 
tory. 

The  Capitol  of  the  Territory  of  Missouri, 
which  had  been  called  Upper  Louisiana,  was 
St.  Louis.  In  the  year  1820,  the  State  of  Mis- 
souri was  organized,  and  was  admitted  into  the 
Union  in  1821.  From  November  1st  of  that 
year,  the  Capitol  was  at  St.  Louis;  at  St. 
Charles  from  1821  to  October  1,  1826;  since 
which  time  it  has  been  at  Jefferson  City.  In  the 
year  1836,  by  an  act  of  Congress,  the  Western 
boundary  was  extended  to  include  what  was  called 
the  Plate  Purchase,  when  the  State  of  Missouri 
was  established  in  its  present  geographical  limits 
and  bounds. 

Originally,  the  State  was  divided  into  five  Dis- 
tricts;  First,  New  Madrid,  including  all  the 
territory  between  the  Southern  boundary  of  the 
State,  and  a  place  called  Tywappity  Bottom; 
second,  Cape  Girardeau,  including  all  the  terri- 
tory between  Tywappity  Bottom  and  Apple 
Creek  ;  third,  St.  Genevieve,  including  the  terri- 
tory  between    Apple  Creek  and   the   Meremac 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  3 

River;  fourth,  St.  Louis,  including  the  territory 
])et\veen  the  Meremac  and  Missouri  Rivers  ;  fifth, 
St.  Charles,  including  all  the  territory  north  of 
the  Missouri  River. 

That  part  of  the  State  known  as  the  first  three 
divisions,  or  parts,  which  is  now  called  Southeast 
Missouri,  is  the  part  to  be  identified  in  the  Bap- 
tist History,  of  which  I  am  now  about  to  write. 

The  first  actual  settlement  of  white  inhabitants 
in  Southeast  Missouri,  so  far  back  as  tradition 
can  fix  the  date,  was  in  the  county  of  St.  Gene- 
vieve, in  the  j^ear  1735.  Su])sequently,  in  the 
year  1763,  several  French  families  came  from 
Kaskaskia  and  St.  Philip,  and  settled  in  this  part 
of  the  country.  The  next  settlement  was  made 
where  St.  Louis  now  stands,  in  the  year  1764. 
The  settlement  of  St.  Louis  was  established  by  a 
French  merchant,  named  M.  Liguest,  who  called 
it  St.  Louis  in  honor  of  Louis,  the  fourteenth 
king  of  France,  not  knowing  that  the  King  had 
already  ceded  the  territory  to  their  old  enem3% 
Spain,  and  that  it  then  belonged  to  her ;  after- 
w^ards  ruled  by  her  authority,  until  ceded  to  the 
United  States. 

From  these  statements,  the  reader  may  have  a 
view  of  the  first  settlements  west  of  the  great 
river,  and  especially    Southeast   Missouri ;  from 


4  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

which  field  the  following  historical  sketches  of 
Baptist  history  are  gathered :  Their  first  settle- 
ments, the  lirst  Baptist  preacher,  the  first  church, 
the  first  association  organized,  followed  by  a  re- 
view of  the  labors,  toils  and  sacrifices,  made  for 
the  establishment,  success  and  progress  of  the 
cause  of  truth  and  liberty. 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI. 


CHAPTER  I, 


THE    FIRST   ASSOCIATION. 

Beginning  in  179(3,  the  first  Baptist  settlement, 
the  first  minister,  the  first  convert,  the  first  bap- 
tism, the  first  chnrch,  the  first  Baptist  associa- 
tion were  established  west  of  the  great  Missis- 
sippi River;  and  these  were  the  first  Christians, 
other  than  Roman  Catholics,  to  set  foot  on  the 
land  of  Missouri. 

This  was  many  years  before  Missouri  became  a 
state,  and  while,  as  yet,  her  territory  was  con- 
trolled by  foreign  kings.  A  few  Baptists  came 
and  settled  in  her  borders,  and,  as,  at  this  time, 
Romanism  was  the  established  religion,  no  free- 
dom of  conscience  was  allowed;  consequently, 
those  wdio  met  to  worship  God  in  the  simplicity 
of  gospel  faith,  did  so  at  their  peril.  The  few 
Baptists,  who  w^ere  here  prior  to  the  close  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  w^ere  frequently  threatened 
by  the  emissaries  of  the  Pope.  But  they  counted 
not  their  lives  dear  unto  themselves,  and  thus 
went  forward,  not  fearing  those  who  could  kill 
the  body,  but  trusting  in  Him  who  had  power  to 


h  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

destroy  both  soul  and  body  in  hell.  With  this 
Divine  trust  they  seemed  to  become  emboldened 
by  the  threats  of  the  Papal  power,  and  therefore 
raised  their  voices  in  opposition  to  the  supersti- 
tions, corruptions  and  innovations  of  the  Romish 
Church.  In  defending  the  doctrine  of  salvation, 
by  a  personal  and  living  faith  in  Christ  (as  the 
Head  of  the  Church),  certainly  those  were  noble 
spirits  that  first  planted  the  standard  of  a  pure 
Gospel  west  of  the  great  river,  maintaining  at  the 
same  time  the  right  of  soul  liberty.  They  were 
Baptists,  and  the  first  of  whom  we  have 
any  account  (as  they  were  the  first  Christians 
other  than  Catholics  that  ever  set  foot  on  the 
soil  of  Missouri)  w-ere  Thomas  Bull,  his  wife  and 
her  mother,  Mrs.  Lee.  They  settled  in  what  is 
now  Cape  Girardeau  county,  in  the  3^ear  1796. 
Mrs.  Bull  and  Mrs.  Lee  died  before  the  first 
church  w^as  organized.  The  next  that  came  to 
this  part  of  Missouri  were  Mr.  Enos  Randol  and 
wife,  and  Mrs.  Abernathy,  the  wife  of  Mr.  John 
Abernath}^  in  1797.  They  settled  a  few  miles 
south  of  Jackson,  the  present  county-seat,  on 
Randol's  Creek,  so  called  in  honor  of  Enos  Ran- 
dol, the  first  settler  near  it.  These  families  lived, 
for  several  years,  in  the  midst  of  forest  wilds, 
with  Indians  on  almost  every  hand,  entirely  des= 


SOUTHEAST   ^IISSOtJRI.  7 

titute  of  even  ordinary  church  privileges,  though 
they  occasionally  met  together,  not  publicly,  to 
sing,  and  pray,  and  worship  God  in  this  wilderness, 
this  great  wilderness,  doubtless  the  greatest  on 
the  American  continent,  embracing,  first  and  last, 
all  the  country  west  of  the  great  river,  extending 
from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  the  British  possessions 
on  the  north,  and  westward  to  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
a  territory  suflScient  for  the  planting  and  estab- 
lishment of  more  than  twenty  of  the  grandest 
States  of  the  American  Republic.  Such  was  the 
county  in  which  our  Baptist  fathers  first  settled. 
But  they  were  not  destined  to  live  long  in  this 
way,  as,  in  the  year  1799,  they  were  encouraged 
by  a  visit  from  Elder  Thomas  Johnson,  an  aged 
Baptist  minister  from  Georgia,  who  was  prob- 
ably the  first  Baptist  preacher  of  the  regular  order 
who  ever  came  west  of  the  great  river.  Elder 
John  Clark,  who  was  a  Baptist  in  principle, 
though  not  a  member,  preceded  him  one  year. 
We  will  here  mention,  of  Elder  John  Clark,  that 
he  was  a  Methodist  preacher,  who,  after  visiting 
this  part  of  the  Territory,  finally  became  identi- 
fied with  what  is  called  the  St.  Louis  District  or 
settlement,  in  which  he  became  a  member  of  the 
regular  order  of  Baptists,  with  whom  he  spent 
the  remainder   of  his  loui?  and  useful  life. 


«  THE   BAPTISTS    OF 

Of  Thomas  Johnson's  life  we  have  but  limited 
information.  He  was  doubtless  a  native  of  the 
State  of  Georgia,  where  he  resided  at  the  time  of 
his  missionary  tour  west  of  the  great  river.  And 
right  here  we  mention  him  as  a  missionary.  The 
first  Baptist  of  the  regular  order  that  ever 
preached  in  Missouri  was  a  missionary.  It  is  said 
of  him  that  most  of  his  ministerial  life  was  spent 
as  missionary  to  the  Cherokee  Indians  in  his 
native  State.  His  visit  to  Missouri  was  a  great 
l)lessing  to  the  scattered  sheep  of  this  great  wil- 
derness, and,  though  contrary  to  the  law  of 
Romanism,  he  preached  the  blessed  gospel  to 
them,  not  in  stately  houses  like  we  have  to-day, 
with  large  public  gatherings  of  the  people,  but  in 
the  log  cabins,  and  out-of-the-way  places,  to  small 
companies  of  eager  hearers  with  honest  purposes 
and  warm  hearts.  They  made  no  great  parade 
about  their  meetings,  lest  they  should  be  inter- 
rupted by  the  agents  of  the  Pope. 

The  preaching  of  this  old  pioneer  missionary 
was  fruitful  of  good,  during  his  stay,  even  be- 
yond the  encouragement  it  gave  to  the  children  of 
God  in  the  wilderness,  as,  under  his  preaching, 
Mrs.  Ballon,  the  wife  of  one  of  the  oldest  set- 
tlers, was  converted  and  baptized  by  him  in  Ran- 
dol's  Creek.      This,  without  doubt,  was  the  first 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  \) 

baptism  ever  administered  in  Missouri ;  and,  as 
there  was  not  a  church  in  the  Territory,  Mr. 
Johnson,  following  an  old  custom,  gave  Mrs. 
Bullou  a  certificate  of  baptism,  which,  in  a  prac- 
tical way,  answered  all  the  purposes  of  a 
church-letter  of  dismission. 

Eld.  Johnson  died  in  his  native  State  about  the 
year  1830.  The  year  1805  constituted  a  new  era 
among  Baptists  in  this  wilderness  land.  One 
year  before,  France  had  ceded  Upper  Louisiana  to 
the  United  States,  which  event  brought  with  it 
the  enjoyment  of  religious  liberty.  Another  fact 
also  contributed  this  year  to  the  prosperity  of  the 
Baptist  cause — the  coming  to  the  territory  of 
Eld.  David  Green,  whom  God  seemed  to  have 
chosen  as  His  instrument  to  permanently  plant 
the  gospel  seed  in  this  great  wilderness. 

David  Green  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  He 
spent  most  of  his  life  in  North  and  South  Caro- 
lina, preaching  the  gospel  to  the  poor.  During 
the  early  settlement  of  that  State,  he  moved  to 
Kentucky,  where  he  resided  till  1805,  when  he 
came  to  Missouri.  A  few  Baptist  families  had 
moved  and  settled  in  Tywappity  Bottom,  some 
ten  or  twelve  miles  south  of  Cape  Girardeau. 
Several  others  had  also  settled  in  the  neighbor- 
.  hood    of  Jackson.      To   these   families   Brother 


10  THE    BAI»T1STS    OF 

Green  preached  for  a  ^vhile,  and  then  returned  to 
his  home  in  Kentucky.  The  condition  of  his 
brethren  in  the  Missouri  Territory  rested  so  heav- 
ily upon  his  mind  that  he  could  not  remain  away 
from  them,  and  the  next  spring  he  came  with  his 
family  and  fixed  his  home  in  Cape  Girardeau 
county.  He  continued  his  labors  in  that  district, 
organized  the  first  two  churches  in  the  Territory, 
and  on  the  9th  of  December,  1809,  was  taken 
home  to  his  rest,  in  Heaven. 

The  first  Baptist  Church  ever  formed  in  the 
Missouri  Territory  was  in  the  Tywappity  Bottom. 
As  there  has  been  some  doubt  about  the  date  of 
this  church,  and  as  the  honor  of  its  being  the  first 
has  been  claimed  for  another,  we  give  the  testi- 
mony entire  on  which  this  statement  is  made. 

In  this  vicinity,  the  first  Baptist  church,  called 
Tywappity,  was  organized  in  1805,  of  some  eight 
or  ten  members.  This  was  the  first  religious  con- 
gregation, other  than  Koman  Catholic,  that  was 
gathered  west  of  the  great  river. 

The  next  year,  1806,  the  second,  called  Bethel, 
was  organized  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  site 
of  Jackson,  about  twelve  miles  northwest  of  Cape 
Girardeau.  In  this  vicinity,  quite  a  colony  of 
Americans  from  Kentucky  and  other  States,  in 
eluding  several  Baptist  families,  had  settled.     A 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  11 

preacher  by  the  name  of  Green  otliciated  witli 
these  churches  in  their  early  formation. 

Tywappity  Church  was  a  feeble  body  from  the 
first,  and  became  defunct  after  a  few  years,  but 
was  reorganized  in  1809,  or  another  church  oc- 
cupied its  place,  to  which  Mr.  Edwards  minis- 
tered in  1817.  The  meetings  were  held  at  Ross 
Point,  or  near  the  present  site  of  Commerce,  in 
Scott  county.  \_Peck's  Reminiscences  of  Mis- 
souri, Westeini  Watchman,  volume  8.] 

Hardshijjs  of  These  First  Families. — Even 
ten  or  twelve  years  after  the  date  last  named, 
they  were  sometimes  reduced  almost  to  starva- 
tion. We  give  the  following  description  by  an 
eye  witness  : 

On  Saturday,  November  15,  1817,  we  were 
circumnavigating  the  great  bend — the  flood  of 
the  Ohio  checking  the  current.  When  we  left 
Shawneetown,  there  was  not  half  a  barrel  of  flour 
in  the  place,  and  it  was  only  by  a  special  favor 
that  we  got  two  loaves  of  bread.  We  had  laid  in 
a  supply  of  fresh  beef,  and  the  captain  had  a 
small  stock  of  hard  sea-biscuit,  so  a  supply  of 
eatables  of  some  sort  must  be  had  at  the  first  set- 
tlement, which  proved  to  be  Tywappity  Bot- 
tom. On  Sunday,  at  12  o'clock,  I  found  here 
two  Baptist  families  and  learned  some  important 


12  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 

facts  about  the  state  of  religion  and  schools  in 
this  part  of  the  territory.  No  milk  and  no 
meal  could  be  had,  but  we  obtained  a  few  ears  of 
damp  corn  from  the  field,  and  a  bushel  of  pota- 
toes. The  mills,  such  as  then  existed,  were  out 
of  repair,  and  no  family  enjoyed  the  benefit  of 
corn  dodgers.  Hominy  w^as  the  substitute  for 
bread.  Our  progress,  by  the  setting  poles,  the 
coi'delle,  and  the  bushivhacking ,  from  this  time 
until  we  reached  St.  Louis,  was  at  the  rate  of 
eight  or  ten  miles  each  day.  On  the  17th,  we 
reached  Ross  Point,  where  bluffs  set  in,  or  jut  out 
into  the  river,  and  where  resided  John  Baldwin, 
a  Baptist  of  some  prominence.  Here,  also, 
I  found  and  made  the  acquaintance  of  Eld.  James 
P.  Edwards,  who  subsequently  died  in  the  wes- 
tern part  of  Kentucky.  Such  was  life  in  this 
early  settlement.     Ibid. 

We  have  already  seen  that  the  Bethel  Church 
was  the  second  gathered  in  the  Territory.  It  was 
organized  .July  19,  1800,  a  short  distance  south 
of  the  present  site  of  Jackson,  the  County-seat 
of  Cape  Girardeau  county.  I  am  writing  with  the 
old  book  of  records  before  me.  David  Green, 
the  minister,  and  Deacons  George  Lawrence  and 
Henry  Cockerham  officiated   in  the  constitution. 

The    constituent   members    were   Eld.    David 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  13 

Green,  Thomas  English,  AYilliam  Matthews,  Lena 
Green,  William  Smith,  Jane  English,  Agnes 
Ballon,  Thomas  Bull,  Clara  Abernathy,  Edward 
Spears,  Catherine  Anderson,  Anderson  Rogers, 
Rebekah  Randol,  John  Hitt  and  Frances  Hitt ; 
in  all,  fifteen.  Thomas  Bull  was  chosen  Writing 
Clerk,  and  William  Matthews  as  Singing  Clerk. 

Eld.  David  Green  ministered  to  this  flock  in 
the  wilderness  for  a  few   years  and  then  died. 

Bethel  Church,  though  the  second  organized, 
may  be  regarded  as  the  first  permanent  church 
organization  in  Missouri.  The  first,  Tywappity, 
havini?  become  defunct  not  lons^  after  it  was  or- 
ganized.  And  from  Bethel  Church,  directly  or 
indirectly,  sprang  all  the  churches  that  composed 
the  first  Association  ever  organized  west  of  the 
ti^reat  river. 

The  first  house  of  worship  ever  erected  in  Mis- 
souri, save  those  built  by  Catholics,  was  built  by 
the  Bethel  Baptist  Church  above  mentioned  not 
long  after  its  organization.  It  was  constructed 
mainly  of  very  large  yellow  poplar  logs,  well 
hewn;  it  was  about  twenty  by  thirty  feet,  and 
located  about  one  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Jack- 
son. 

In  honor  to,  and  in  memory  of  this  house 
of  worship,  built  by  these  first  pioneer  Christians 


14  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

of  th(3  great  West,  we  submit  the  following 
highly  complimentary  address,  by  Rev.  J.  C. 
Maple,  which  accompanied  a  handsomely  mounted 
gavel — made  of  wood  from  one  of  the  sills  of  the 
old  Bethel  Church  House — presented  to  the 
Moderator  of  the  General  Association  of  Mis- 
souri, at  its  Session  held  at  St.  Joseph,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1875: 

ADDRESS    OF    KEV.    J.    C.    MAPLE,    D.    D. 

Brother  Moderator  and  Brethren: 

I  have  a  pleasant  duty  which  I  desire,  by  your 
permission,  to  perform.  It  is  known,  my  breth- 
ren, that,  as  in  other  States,  the  Baptists  were 
among  the  first  to  erect  the  standard  of  the  cross 
in  Missouri;  and  though  we  are  not  of  those  who 
have  faith  in  the  preserving  power  of  relics  or 
amulets,  we  do  believe  in  guarding  with  care 
our  records ;  and  both  duty  and  affection  re- 
quire us  to  treasure  some  of  the  mementoes  of  the 
men  and  their  work,  who  were  the  pioneers  in 
this  great  State. 

From  1731  to  1803,  the  condition  of  the 
Government  affairs  of  the  province  of  Louisiana, 
which  then  included  what  is  now  the  State  of 
Missouri,  was  far  from  being  settled.  The  ques- 
tion of  Spanish  or  French  rule  was  not  arranged 
to  the   satisfaction  of  the  people,  yet  for   years 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  15 

the  upper  territory  was  under  the  control  of  a 
Spanish  Governor,  whose  headquarters  were  at 
Cape  Girardeau.  Here  he  ruled  with  the  pomp 
and  severity  of  an  oriental  prince.  He  was  never 
without  his  retinue  of  priestly  advisors.  Inliu- 
enced  by  these  vassals  of  the  Pope,  he,  at  one 
time,  issued  an  order  that  all  the  people  who  re- 
sided within  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles  from  his 
mansion,  should,  on  a  certain  day,  attend  mass  at 
Cape  Girardeau.  The  few  Baptists  then  in  the 
province,  and  residing  within  the  district  named 
in  the  order,  dared  to  disobey  the  command,  and 
it  was  only  by  what  the  pi-iest  termed  the 
neglect  of  the  Governor,  that  they  narrowly 
escaped  the  penalties  of  their  heretical  insubordi- 
nation. 

In  1806,  the  Bethel  Baptist  church  was  organ- 
ized, and  soon  afterward  a  house  was  built,  in 
which  they  met  to  worship  God.  This  was  the 
first  house  of  worship  built  by  anti-Catholics, 
w^est  of  the  Mississippi  River.  From  the  great 
river  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  this  log  house  was  the 
only  building  devoted  to  the  service  of  the  living 
God.  The  membership  of  the  church  was  not 
large,  but  formed  an  active,  consecrated  band. 
When  visited  by  those  remarkable  pioneers.  Peck 
and  Welch,  they  found  her   an  earnest,  liberal, 


10  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

working  missionary  body.  Even  the  amount  of 
money  contributed  for  missions  has  been  kept 
upon  the  records  by  the  unwearied  chronicler, 
Kev.  John  M.  Peck. 

But,  in  a  few  years,  a  portion  of  the  church 
withdrew  and  formed  a  new  organization,  in  the 
vilhige  of  Jackson,  one  mile  north  of  the  old 
Bethel  meeting-house.  This  was  not  the  first, 
but  the  fourth  colony  which  had  gone  out  from 
the  mother  church.  But  those  who  remained 
after  the  formation  of  the  Jackson  church,  un- 
fortunately, became  anti-Missionary,  and,  of 
course,  the  Bethel  ceased  to  exist  with  the  death 
of  those  who  were  the  members.  The  church  in 
Jackson  is,  therefore,  the  proper  representative  of 
this  first  Baptist  church  of  Missouri.  At  the 
suggestion  of  Kev.  W.  J.  Patrick  to  the  pastor  of 
that  church.  Rev.  James  Reid,  I  had  this  gavel 
made.  It  is  composed  entirely,  except  the 
mounting,  of  wood  taken  from  one  of  the  sills  of 
this  first  temple  erected  in  the  western  wilderness. 
The  old  house  has  been  torn  down.  The  hand  of 
time  and  the  ruder  hand  of  man  have  accom- 
plished the  work  of  demolition.  But  that  spiritual 
temple,  of  which  every  truly  regenerated  man  or 
woman  forms  a  part,  will  never  feel  the  weight 
of  years,  nor  yield  to  the  wasting  force  of  time; 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  17 

but,  sustained  by  the  Almighty  Hand,  this  more 
glorious  structure,  which  ^\e  labor  to  erect,  will 
endure  with  the  Kock  upon  which  it  is  founded, 
not  only  through  ages,  but  its  existence  is  abso- 
lute and  eternal.  This  little  piece  of  wood  may 
serve  to  remind  us  of  the  small  beo^inninoj  of  the 
Baptist  denomination  in  Missouri,  sixty-nine  years 
aoro.  In  less  than  seven  decades  the  one  church 
has  increased  to  1,292,  and  the  little  band,  that 
then  stood  alone  in  this  vast  region,  has  become 
nearly  90,000,  to  say  nothing  of  the  large  num- 
ber and  the  glorious  work  now  being  accomplished 
in  other  States  and  Territories  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River. 

To-day,  we  may  well  exclaim:  *'What  hath 
God  wrought?"  And  while  we  should  carefully 
avoid  all  vain  glorying  over  our  numbers,  let  us, 
to-day,  take  fresh  courage  from  this  little 
memento  of  the  past,  and  seek  an  increase  of 
consecration  to  the  Master's  work,  commensur- 
ate with  our  numbers  and  our  opportunities.  We 
have  not  now,  as  then,  a  single  log  house  in  the 
wilderness,  but  many  elegant  houses  of  worship  ; 
and  what  is  still  better,  a  noble  band  of  able  and 
consecrated  ministers,  who  preach  the  Word  of 
life  in  these  well  built  temples. 

We  have  all  the  needed  facilities  for  great  use- 


18  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

fulness.  Let  us,  my  brethren,  with  the  call  of 
this  travel ,  hear  the  voice  of  the  little  band  that 
began  the  work  in  the  great  state, — exhorting  us 
to  greater  activity;  and,  in  the  name  of  Him  by 
wdiom  they  conquered,  promising  us  yet  greater 
victories. 

To  your  care,  my  dear  brother,  as  the  Modera- 
tor of  this  body^  I  commit  this  memento.  When 
seven  more  decades  have  passed  away,  may  it  ap- 
pear that  our  growth  has  equalled,  if  not  sur- 
passed, the  rate  of  the  past. 

Rev.  J.  M.  Peck  visited  the  Bethel  Church  in 
the  year  of  1818.  He  speaks  of  having  preached 
there  on  the  subject  of  "Missions,"  and  of  taking 
collections  amounting  to  $31.37.  He  says  that 
*'this  church,  at  that  time,  w^as  the  most  liberal 
contributor  to  missions  in  the  Territory." 

The  Bethel  Church  sent  messengers  to  the  Red 
River  Association,  Kentucky,  in  1810,  and  con- 
tinued to  do  so  until  the  formation  of  the  Bethel 
Association  in  1816,  an  account  of  which  will 
soon  be  given. 

A  Baptist  preacher,  named  William  Murphy — 
a  native  of  Ireland — came  from  East  Tennessee, 
with  his  son  William  and  one  Silas  George,  and 
located  claims  just  south  of  the  present  site  of 
Farmington,  St.  Francois  county,  in  1798.     Rev. 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  19 

Murphy  and  Mr.  George  both  died  on  the  way 
home,  as  they  were  returning  for  their  families. 
David  Murphy  cut  the  first  tree  in  what  was 
known  as  the  Murphy  Settlement. 

In  1804  Mrs.  Sarah  Murphy,  the  widow  of 
Rev.  Wm.  Murphy,  came  to  the  claim  located  by 
her  husband  in  1798.  She  was  accompanied  by 
her  sons,  Isaac  and  Jesse,  a  grandson,  and  several 
others.  Three  years  after  she  came  to  this 
county,  she  organized  a  Sunday-school,  which 
continued  in  successful  operation  for  many  years. 
The  school  was  organized  not  far  from  where 
Farmington  now  stands,  and  was,  doubtless,  the 
first  organized  in  the  great  West.  It  was  a  model 
school  for  the  times.  [Life  of  Eld.  Wilson 
Thompson,  p.  175.]  [Minutes  of  Bethel  Church, 
June,  1810.] 

THE    ORGAXIZATION    OF    THE     FIRST    BAPTIST    ASSO- 
CIATION^ WEST   OF   THE   MISSISSIPPI, 

I  have  briefly  sketched  the  early  settlements  of 
Missouri,  their  system  of  government,  manner  of 
living,  etc.,  etc.,  including  the  first  Baptist  fami- 
lies and  their  settlements,  the  first  preachers,  the 
first  convert,  the  first  baptism,  the  first  churches 
organized,  the  first  house  of  worship  built — em- 
bracing a  period  of  from  1735  to  1816.  In  this 
year  the  Bethel  Baptist  Association  was  organ- 


20  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

ized,  the  first  west  of  the  Father  of  Waters. 
I  will  now  proceed  to  give  an  account  of  this 
Association,  taken  from  the  historical  sketches 
furnished  by  Eld.  Wm.  Polk,  in  the  "Ironton 
Bai^tist  Journal."  (A  notice  of  this  Journal  and 
its  editor  will  be  given  towards  the  close  of  this 
chapter.)  These  sketches  embrace  the  writings 
of  J.  M.  Peck  and  others,  whose  reminiscences 
extend  back  to  the  beginning  of  Baptist  work  in 
the  Territory  of  Missouri,  besides  the  lifetime  ac- 
quaintance of  this  venerable  author  with  the  work 
and  doings  of  this  Mother  Association,  from  the 
date  of  its  organization  in  1816,  to  1859,  at  which 
time  this  historical  account  appeared  in  the  first 
number  of  the  Journal.  It  extends  over  a  period 
of  forty -three  years.  Having  these  sketches  be- 
fore me,  I  submit  this  account  as  doubtless  the 
most  accurate  and  faithful  of  any  from  1816  to 
1859. 

HISTORY   OF   THE    BETHEL    ASSOCIATION. 

This  mighty  state,  with  its  cities,  towns,  and 
densely  populated  districts,  was,  says  Eld.  Polk, 
a  far  western  wilderness,  more  difficult  of  access 
from  the  older  states  than  San  Francisco  is  now 
from  New  York.  The  difficulty  of  towing  a  keel- 
boat  laden  with  provisions,  farming  utensils,  and 
the  like,  against  a  rapid  current,  made  emigration 


SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI.  21 

stop  as  soon  as  a  favorable  location  could  be  ob- 
tained. Consequently,  the  lower  portion  of  the 
state  was  the  iirst  settled  by  Americans  to  any 
great  extent,  as  it  had  been  by  the  Spanish  and 
French. 

Among  the  first  to  undergo  the  hardships  of 
this  journey,  and  enter  the  wilds  of  Missouri, 
w^ere  found,  as  is  usually  the  case,  members  and 
ministers  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  They 
were  scattered  about,  in  settlements,  from  New 
Madrid  to  Old  Franklin.  They  had  a  few  church 
organizations,  but  no  association  of  churches,  up 
to  the  year  of  1816,  when  Missouri  was  still  a 
wild  territory, — its  character  and  inhabitants 
almost  unknown  to  the  world. 

The  first  gathering,  for  the  purpose  of  forming 
an  association  of  churches,  was  held  in  the 
small,  log  meeting  house  of  the  Bethel  Church, 
Cape  Girardeau  county,  on  the  second  Lord's 
Day  in  June,  1816.  Eld.  James  Edwards 
preached.  The  Convention  was  opened  with 
prayer  by  Eld.  Thomas  Donahue;  Isaac  Sheppard 
was  chosen  Moderator,  and  Thomas  Bull,  Clerk. 

The  following  messengers  from  churches  were 
enrolled:  Bethel  Church,  Thomas  Bull,  John 
Sheppard,  Eld.  Benjamin  Thompson,  and  Rol)ert 
English;  Tywappity,  Henry  Cockersham,   John 


22  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 

Baldwin  and  William  Ross;  Providence,  Wm. 
Savage;  Saline,  Eld.  Thos.  Donahue  and  John 
Duval ;  St.  Francois  Church,  Eld.  Wm.  Street 
and  Jonathan  Hubble ;  Turkey  Creek  Church, 
AYm.  Johnson,  E.  Eevelle  and  S.  Baker.  Elders 
H.  Cockersham,  John  Farrar,  Thos.  Donahue 
and  James  P.  Edwards  were  appointed  to  preach 
and  constitute  churches  in  different  parts  of  the 
Territory.  The  Convention  then  adjourned  to 
meet  again,  to  complete  the  organization,  on  the 
last  Saturday  in  September,  ISIG,  at  the  same 
place, — the  Bethel  meeting  house. 

THE   ORGANIZATIOX. 

In  accordance  with  the  foregoing  preliminary 
arrangements,  another  meeting  was  held  at  the 
Bethel  Church,  near  Jackson,  the  county-seat  of 
Cape  Girardeau  county,  on  the  fourth  Saturday 
in  September,  1816.  The  First  B.iptist  Associa- 
tion west  of  the  great  River  was  thus  fully  or- 
ganized and  called  Bethel,  after  the  church  with 
which  it  met.  The  Bethel,  Tywappity,  Provi- 
dence, Barren,  Belview,  St.  Francois  and  Dry 
Creek  Churches  were  the  constituents  of  this  As- 
sociation, and  their  aggreg:ite  membership  was 
230.  Eld.  Thomas  Donahue  preached  the  Intro- 
ductory Sermon  on  this  memoral)le  occasion. 
The  preachers,  who  were  members  of  this  Asso- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  23 

ciation,  were  Ileniy  Cockersliam,  John  Farrar, 
William  Street  and  James  P.  Edwards. 

The  origin  of  the  Bethel  and  Tywappity 
Churches  has  already  been  given.  Mention  is 
here  given  of  the  others. 

The  Barren  Church,  in  Barren  (now  Perry) 
county,  was  organized  at  the  house  of  one  Bro. 
Evans.  With  this  church.  Eld.  Donahue  lived 
and  labored  until  his  death.  He  was  a  truly  good 
man,  one  of  the  best  examples  of  piety.  He 
preached  the  doctrines  of  the  cross  with  iindevi- 
ating  faith  and  zeal.  The  confidence  of  his  peo- 
ple was  never  shaken  in  him  while  living,  and  his 
virtues  were  remembered  with  teiiilerness,  after 
he  went  home  to  his  reward. 

The  Belvicw  Church  was  oroanized  at  Cale- 
donia, Washington  county,  in  July,  181G  ;  Eld. 
Felix  Reading,  of  Kentucky,  was  its  first  pastor. 

Providence  Church  was  organized  at,  or  near, 
Fredericktown,  in  August,  1814,  by  Elders  Wil- 
son Thompson,  John  Farrar,  and  James  E. 
Welch.  This  last  named  brother  was  a  licentiate 
from  Kentucky,  then  on  a  visit  to  the  Territory. 
J.  M.  Peck  visited  this  church  in  its  earlier  days, 
and  says  that  he  circulated  a  subscription  paper 
to  secure  means  to  pay  Eld.  Farrar  to  preach  for 
them   once  a   month.      Sixty   dollars   was   sub- 


24  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

scribed;  but  in  two  or  three  weeks  after,  in 
church  conference,  a  majority  voted  to,  and  actu- 
ally did,  burn  the  same.  No  wonder  it  came  to 
naught!  From  the  foregoing,  it  appears  that 
Eld.  Farrar  lived  elsewhere,  although  Eld.  Polk 
says,  that  he  was  a  member  of  this  church  and 
preached  for  them  until  1825,  when  he  moved  to 
AVashiiigton  county,  where  he  died  in  1828, 
or  1829  ;  that  he  attended  his  funeral ;  that  he 
was  a  good  man,  mild  in  his  address,  courteous 
in  his  manners,  sound  and  unwavering  in  doc- 
trine, and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  worthy 
pioneer  preachers  of  Missouri.  As  to  his  mem- 
bership, it  seems  that  he  w^as  a  member  of  the 
St.  Francois  Church,  since  the  Bethel  Church  dis- 
missed him,  with  forty-four  others,  to  form  a 
church  by  that  name. 

St.  Francois  Church  takes  its  name  from  the 
river,  St.  Francois,  which  rises  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Iron  Mountain.  This  church  held  its  meet- 
ings about  twenty-five  miles  below  the  village  of 
old  St.  Michael  (now  Fredericktown,  Madison 
county).  The  beloved  William  Street,  a  mem- 
ber of  this  church,  was  also  its  pastor  until  his 
death,  w^hich  occurred  about  the  year  1827.  Eld. 
James  Edwards,  after  laboring  over  fifty  years,  a 
faithful,  God-serving  man,  died,  in  1855,  in  Bal- 


SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI.  25 

lard  county,  Kentucky,  at  the  advanced  a^e  of 
seventy-five  years  ;  the  hist  years  of  his  life  found 
him  still  preaching  the  Gospel  faithfully  and  reg- 
ularly. 

The  Constitution  of  the  Bethel  Association, 
drafted  by  a  committee,  was  the  same  as  that 
adopted  by  the  Virginia  Union  of  Baptists.  The 
Association  was  thus  organized  on  the  principles 
of  the  United  Baptists,  which  faith  it  still  holds. 
The  Virginia  Association,  whose  Constitution  was 
thus  adopted,  was  called  Red  River;  it  was  then 
known  as  the  Red  River  Constitution. 

As  soon  as  this  organization  was  effected,  cor- 
respondence was  opened  with  Little  River  Asso- 
ciation, held  in  Southern  Kentucky;  and  also 
with  Mount  Pleasant  Association,  in  Boone's 
Lick,  Missouri.  This  last  Association  was  con- 
stituted, in  1818,  of  five  churches,  in  which  were 
eight  ordained  ministers. 

In  the  year  1818,  two  messengers  from  these 
corresponding  Associations  were  present:  Eld. 
Josiah  Horn,  from  Little  River,  and  Eld.  Wm. 
Thorp,  from  Mount  Pleasant.  Each  one  had  a 
long  and  dangerous  journey  to  travel.  That  was 
not  an  age  of  railroads  nor  steamboats  ;  neither 
was  it  a  silken  slippered  age,  especially  among 
preachers. 


26  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

The  Association  was  visited,  in  1818,  by  J.  M. 
Peck,  T.  P.  Green  and  others.  A  resolution 
was  introduced  at  this  session  to  open  a  corres- 
pondence with  the  Foreign  Board  of  Missions. 
Elder  T.  P.  Green  was  appointed  Corresponding 
Secretary.  Communications  w^ere  also  submitted 
by  J.  M.  Peck,  on  Foreign  and  Western  Mis- 
sions, which  resulted  in  a  resolution  favorable  to 
missionary  enterprises;  but  the  next  year  it  was 
withdrawn,  and  renewed  again  in  1820.  It  was 
then  resolved  that  the  churches  send  in  their 
views  at  the  next  Association,  when  the  corres- 
pondence was  again  dropped  and  never  after- 
wards renewed.  [O/instian  Rep.,  volume  G, 
part  2,  page  37.] 

The  Association,  by  this  time,  had  increased  to 
fourteen  churches,  with  four  hundred  and  seven- 
teen members;  some  of  whom  were  located  in  the 
Territory  of  Arkansas,  and  were  soon  dismissed 
to  form  an  association  in  that  country. 

In  1824  the  Cape  Girardeau  Association  was 
formed  of  eight  churches  dismissed  from  the 
Bethel  for  that  purpose,  viz.  :  Barren,  Dry 
Creek,  Bethel,  Tywappity,  Clear  Creek,  Apple 
Creek,  Ebenezer,  Big  Prairie,  IIel)roA  and  Shiloh. 
Two  other  churches  were  dismissed,  in  1831,  to 
form  the  Franklin    Association.      Thus  the  Old 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  Z( 

Bethel  will  be  found  to  be  the  parent  of  most  of 
the  associations  of  Southeast  Missouri  (that  is,  up 
to  1859),  and  some  of  those  in  Arkansas.  She 
has  sent  forth  some  able  ministers  of  Christ,  who 
have  gone  out  from  her  bounds  to  other  fields ; 
while  other  faithful  men  have  stayed  to  labor  in 
her  midst  for  the  good  of  souls. 

PROGRESS  OF  THE  BETHEL  ASSOCIATION. 

Elder  Polk  continues  to  trace  the  history  of 
Bethel  Association  with  deep  interest,  having  had 
intimate,  personal  acquaintance  with  her  from  her 
organization,  through  all  her  changes,  prosperous 
and  adverse,  up  to  the  present  time.  In  1822, 
Bethel  Association  appointed  Elders  Street,  Clark 
and  Edwards  to  visit  Arkansas  Territory  and  con- 
stitute therein,  two  churches.  The  point  they 
were  to  visit  was  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
from  their  homes,  and  most  of  the  way  was 
through  a  wilderness,  where  the  Indian  camp  was 
met  far  more  frequently  than  the  white  man's 
cabin.  But  they  felt  that,  as  servants  of  the 
Lord,  they  must  be  up  and  about  their  Master^s 
business,  regardless  of  dangers  or  difliculties. 
They  did  not  go  unaided  l)y  their  brethren,  as 
many  now  suppose  they  did  and  should  have 
done,  because  the  Master  had  called  them  to  His 
work.    This  was  no  ground  that  they  should  bear 


2S  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

their  own  expenses,  and  meet  the  trials  of  the 
way;  for,  notice,  as  soon  as  the  appointment  was 
made  known,  the  brethren  manifested  their  liber- 
ality as  in  the  days  of  the  apostles,  and  numbers 
subscribed  towards  their  outfit;  sufficient  means 
were  collected  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  trip, 
and  their  hearts  w^ere  thus  made  glad  by  the  gen- 
erosity of  their  brethren. 

These  missionaries,  as  such  are  now  called, 
constituted  tvro  churches,  Union  and  Little  Flock, 
in  Lawrence  county,  Arkansas  Territory,  These 
churches  applied  for  membership  at  the  next  ses- 
sion of  the  Association,  September,  1823,  and 
were  received.  Others  sprung  from  these 
churches  which  w^ere  afterwards  admitted  into  the 
Association. 

In  1829  the  following  churches  made  applica- 
tion for  dismission,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
an  association  in  the  Territory  of  Arkansas,  viz.  : 
Spring  River,  New  Hope,  Little  North  Fork  and 
Richland.  The  messengers  of  these  churches  re- 
quested help  in  the  work  of  organizing.  The 
Association  appointed  Elders  J.  Williams,  S. 
Frost,  eJ.  Wilburn,  M.  Bailey  and  William  Street 
to  meet  and  confer  with  the  delegates,  at  Spring 
River  Church,  the  second  Saturday  in  November, 
1829.       This    church    takes    its    name    from  the 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  29 

beautiful  stream  near  which  it  stands,  Bro. 
Street,  though  a  man  of  no  extraordinary  ability 
as  a  preacher,  was  much  loved  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him,  because  of  his  uniform  life 
and  zeal  in  the  cause  he  espoused.  He  resided 
near  St.  Francois  River,  in  Wayne  county,  in  a 
house  built  by  himself,  w4iich  was  covered  with 
shingles  fastened  on  with  wooden  pegs.  This 
was  not  for  want  of  means,  but  on  account  of  his 
remote  situation.  He  was  a  man  of  wealth,  and 
would  often  solicit  protracted  meetings,  giving 
them  support.  He  would  feed  and  lodge  all  the 
visitors  rather  than  burthen  his  poor  neighbors. 
He  was  frequently  chosen  Moderator  of  the 
Association,  which  place  he  filled  with  dignity, 
and  satisfaction  to  his  brethren.  The  church  of 
which  he  was  a  member  was  dismissed  from 
Bethel  to  join  St.  Francois,  a  new  association 
more  convenient  for  him  to  attend.  We  are  not 
informed  as  to  the  time  and  manner  of  his  death. 
James  Wilburn,  a  deacon  in  Pendleton  church, 
emigrated  to  Missouri  in  an  early  day  from  South 
Carolina,  where  he  had  been  a  leading  member  in 
the  Baptist  church  to  which  he  belonged.  He, 
too,  has  long  since  gone  to  rest,  leaving  behind  a 
large  posterity,  many  of  whom  are  members  of 
Pendleton  church. 


30  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

Pendleton  Church  was  constituted  is  1825,  in 
a  settlement  six  miles  west  of  where  Farmington 
now  stands.  This  settlement  was  made  up  chiefly 
of  emigrants  from  Pendleton  district,  South 
Carolina.  Among  those  who  came  from  this  dis- 
trict we  find  the  names  of  Watkins,  Wilburn, 
Halbert  and  others. 

This  church  united  wdth  the  Bethel  Association 
in  1826,  one  year  after  it  was  organized.  James 
Halbert  was  its  first  pastor,  sustaining  that  rela- 
tion until  1838,  when  he  removed  to  Crawford 
county  and  the  church  fell  to  the  charge  of  Eld. 
Wm.  Polk,  in  w^hich  pastorate  he  continued  for 
twenty-five  3'ears  out  of  twenty-six — Eld.  Wni. 
Hamilton  serving  one  year  while  Eld.  Polk  was 
missionary  of  the  Association.  For  a  while,  this 
pastorate  did  not  bring  much  prosperity,  but  in 
after  years,  it  yielded  abundant  fruit  to  the  glory 
of  God.  This  body  has  sent  forth  several  faith- 
ful heralds  of  the  cross  ;  •  and  to  heighten  her 
glory,  it  is  recorded  of  her  that  she  has  stood 
firm  when  oppositions  have  beat  on  her  in  all 
their  fury;  yet  all  have  failed,  and  she  still 
stands.  It  was  here  that  the  eloquent  John 
Barry,  so  much  lamented,  started  forth  as  a  mes- 
senger of  peace.  During  the  three  years  of  his 
youthful  ministry,  his  labors  met  with  marvelous 


SOUTHEAST   MlSSOUIir.  31 

success, — many  souls  being  hopefully  converted. 
Crooked  Creek  Church  came  into  the  Associa- 
tion the  same  year  with  Pendleton  Church.  Eld. 
Polk  says  that  he  could  not  give  the  particulars 
of  this  church,  for  lack  of  full  and  correct  infor- 
mation. The  writer  of  these  sketches  will  here 
add  that  that  church,  then  knoAvu  as  Crooked 
Creek,  is,  doubtless,  the  church  now  known  as 
Marble  Hill  Church,  its  name  havinsf  chanofed 
several  times  as  well  as  its  place  of  meeting. 
Eld.  Polk  adds,  that  Eld.  Orr  labored  with  great 
success  building  up  churches  in  this  part  of 
Southeast  Missouri;  that  Eld.  Moses  Bailey  suc- 
ceeded him  in  the  pastorate  of  this  church;  that 
it  left  the  Bethel  Association  to  unite  with  a  new 
one,  presumably  the  Black  River,  which  after- 
wards dismissed  churches  to  form  the  St.  Fran- 
cois Association.  David  Orr  was  said  to  be  a 
man  of  fine  accomplishments,  with  much  self- 
reliance,  great  zeal  and  energy  in  the  cause  of 
Christ.  He  was  a  graduate  of  high  order,  but  of 
what  school  we  know  not,  as  in  those  days  men 
of  great  talent  and  learning  were  scarce  ;  conse- 
quently, after  the  State  w^as  organized  he  was 
sent  to  the  legislature.  His  brethren  objected  to 
this,  as  it  had  a  tendency  to  draw  his  mind  from 
the  great  work  of  the  Gospel. 


32  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

We  have  but  little  information  resfardino:  Eld. 
Moses  Bailey,  Bro.  Orr's  successor  to  the  charge 
of  Crooked  Creek  Church,  except  that  he  was  a 
man  of  ability  and  energy. 

A  good  anecdote  is  related  of  these  two  breth- 
ren— Orr  and  Bailey.  Bro.  Bailey  was,  at  first, 
a  Methodist  preacher.  He  had  an  interview  with 
Bro.  Orr,  which  resulted  in  a  debate  between 
them  on  the  subject  of  baptism.  Sometime  after 
the  discussion,  the  disputants  met  at  a  neighbor's 
house,  when  the  dispute  was  renewed.  Each  de- 
fended his  own  side  with  great  warmth,  until  at 
last,  forgetting  themselves,  in  their  zeal  for  their 
respective  opinions,  they  came  to  blows.  Bro. 
Orr  proved  too  strong  in  this  contest,  as  he  did 
in  the  war  of  words,  and  so  Bro.  Bailey  had  to 
yield.  In  a  short  time  after,  they  became  friends, 
and  Bro.  Bailey  yielded  the  questi(»n,  united  with 
the  Baptist  Church, — Bro.  Orr  baptizing  him. 
After  this,  they  labored  together,  retaining  the 
most  mtimate  friendship  as  long  as  Bro.  Orr 
lived.  The  truth  of  this  circumstance  is  cor- 
roborated by  a  son  of  Eld.  Moses  Bailey,  Bro. 
John  Bailey,  now  a  faithful  member  of  Marble 
Hill  Baptist  Church,  Bollinger  county. 

PROGRESS   OF   THE    BETHEL   ASSOCIATION. 

In  1827,  Bethel  Association  held  its  meeting 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  33 

with  Providence  Church,  near  Fredericktown,  at 
which  meeting  New  Hope  and  Little  Flock 
Churches  sent  up  the  following  request: 

We  pray  you  as  an  advisory  council,  to  devise 
some  plan  whereby  destitute  churches  and  vicini- 
ties may  be  supplied  with  the  preaching  of  the 
Gospel. 

To  this  the  Association  responded  by  sending 
Wingate  Jackson,  J.  Williams,  David  Orr  and 
J.  Farrar.  These  men  and  their  work  in  the 
interest  of  building  up  the  Baptist  cause,  and  en- 
larging the  influence  of  the  Bethel  Association, 
will  be  noticed  in  succeeding  chapters. 

In  the  year  1820,  Hepzibah  Church  united  with 
the  Bethel  Association.  It  was  constituted  by 
Wingate  Jackson,  in  St.  Genevieve  county,  the 
same  year.  It  was  located  on  the  Big  Saline 
River,  in  a  settlement  called  New  Tennessee. 
The  members  of  the  organization  ^veve  Eld.  Win- 
gate Jackson,  Obediah  Scott,  Noah  Hunt,  Joel 
and  Enos  Homers  and  two  sisters. 

Wingate  Jackson  was  born  in  Virginia,  in  1776. 
His  parents  emigrated  to  the  state  of  Kentucky 
when  he  was  quite  young.  He  professed  religion 
in  early  youth  and  united  with  the  Baptist 
Church.  Soon  after,  he  commenced  to  preach, 
and  was  ordained  in  that  state  :  and  for  a  number 


34  THE    BAPTISTS    CF 

of  years  he  was  a  prominent  preacher  among 
Kentucky  Baptists.  He  removed  to  Missouri 
while  it  was  a  wilderness,  and  preached  with 
great  acceptance  in  the  bounds  of  the  Bethel 
Association.  He  was  a  great  counsellor  and 
peace-maker  among  the  churches. 

On  one  occasion  there  were  seven  accessions  to 
the  church,  while  it  was  destitute  of  a  pastor. 
Elders  Jackson  and  Polk  were  both  sent  for,  that 
one  or  the  other  might  administer  baptism,  and 
to  guard  against  disappointment.  They  both  met 
at  the  church.  Elder  Polk  relates  that  a  Metho- 
dist preacher,  a  circuit  rider,  had  an  appoint- 
ment for  the  forenoon  to  sprinkle  an  infant.  All 
parties  met  at  the  same  time ;  Jackson  and  the 
circuit  rider  occupied  the  pulpit.  The  circuit 
rider  preached,  and  at  the  close  of  his  discourse 
called  for  the  subject  of  the  ceremony,  making 
the  following  remarks  :  "We  are  the  people  who 
believe  in  free  agency,  and  that  every  person 
should  judge  for  himself  and  choose  his  own 
mode  of  baptism."  He  then  called  for  the  baby, 
performed  the  ceremony  and  gave  way.  Jackson 
then  took  charge  of  the  congregation,  and  after 
singing  a  hymn,  he  said  he  was  well  pleased  with 
the  sentiment  expressed  by  the  brother.  He  also 
believed  in  the  doctrine  of  a  free  agency,  and 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  35 

was  most  earnestly  in  favor  of  persons  choosing 
for  themselves.  "But,"  said  he,  *Hhe  brother 
was  very  inconsistent,  after  such  remarks,  to 
sprinkle  water  in  the  baby's  face,  when  it  could 
not  help  itself  and  was  incapable  of  choosing  for 
itself;  from  the  way  it  cried  and  resisted,  we 
know  that  it  was  in  no  way  pleasing  to  it.  At 
this,  the  circuit  rider  was  very  indignant,  and  ris- 
ing, challenged  Jackson  for  a  debate.  ** There  is 
nothing  to  debate  between  us,"  replied  Jackson, 
'* reconcile  your  principles  expressed  with  this 
practice  of  yours,  and  the  question  is  settled." 
The  circuit  rider  left,  while  Jackson  proceeded  to 
preach  a  most  acceptable  sermon.  We  might 
dwell  at  length  on  the  life  of  this  great  man,  but 
suffice  it  to  say  :  He  rests  from  his  labors  j;s  one 
who  did  much  for  the  cause  of  truth  in  Southeast 
Missouri.     He  died  in  1835. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Father  Jackson,  Hep- 
zibah  church  dissolved  her  constitution  for  want 
of  ministerial  aid ;  yet  the  members  remained 
true  to  the  cause  of  the  Master  as  individuals. 
Among  them  we  mention  Obediah  Scott,  noted 
for  his  piety  and  steadfastness.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  Bethel  Association  held  with  the  Hepzibah 
church — of  which  he  was  a  member — in  1838,  a 
motion  was  made  to  drop  the  nume  * 'United." 


36  THE   BAPTISTS    OF 

A  warm  debate  followed,  in  which  Obediah  Scott 
and  Elder  Wm.  Polk,  long  a  member  and  minis- 
ter in  the  Association,  pleaded  earnestly  that  the 
union,  which  had  so  long  existed,  should  still  con- 
tinue. It  was  a  melting  scene,  when  old  Bro. 
Scott,  with  tears  flowing  freely  down  his  withered 
cheeks,  besought  them  not  to  thus  break  the 
union  between  brethren  of  the  same  household. 
Some  of  the  principal  advocates  of  the  proposi- 
tion w^ere  then  merging  into  Parkerism,  or  Two- 
seedism,  where  they  evidently  landed  as  the 
sequel  will  unquestionably  show. 

The  Bethel  Association  held  her  Sixth  Annual 
Meeting  at  Bethel  Church,  Cape  Girardeau 
county,  on  Saturday  the  4th  day  of  September, 
1822.  Wm.  Street  preached  the  Introductory 
Sermon.  Isaac  Sheppard  was  chosen  Moderator ; 
Elliott  Jackson,  Clerk.  At  that  time  the  Asso- 
ciation had  a  membership  of  454  communicants. 
New  Hope  Church  came  into  the  Association  this 
session.  This  church  w^as  organized,  with 
eighteen  members,  a  few  miles  north  of  Iron 
Mountain,  St.  Francois  county,  tiames  Halbert 
was  its  first  pastor.  Christopher  Crider,  a  mem- 
ber of  this  church,  lived  a  long  and  useful  life: 
he  was  a  godly,  })niying  uian,  and  a  warm  ex- 
horter.     This  church  is  still  living,   situated  now 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  37 

near  Bismarck,  a  large  railroad  town,  of  much 
business.  Elder  Jolm  Martin,  a  resident  minister 
of  the  community,  is  pastor  at  this  time,  1888. 

Bethel  Association  opened  correspondence  with 
what  was  called  theMissouri  Association,  in  1819, 
and  also  with  the  Illinois  Association,  but  neither 
continued  very  long.  The  correspondence  with 
the  Missouri  Association  was  discontinued  because 
of  their  division;  and  that  with  the  Illinois 
through  neglect,  says  Elder  Polk ;  and  corres- 
pondence with  the  Cape  Girardeau  fell  through 
about  the  same  way.  He  also  says,  that  in  1831, 
correspondence  was  opened  with  Franklin  Asso- 
ciation and  continued  until  1834,  when  a  personal 
difficulty  occurred  which  finally  affected  the 
union  of  the  two  bodies  and  the  correspondence 
ceased. 

THE  FAITH  AND  ORDEK   OF   THE    ASSOCIATION    CON- 
SIDERED. 

In  1834,  a  council  was  held  with  Pendleton 
Church,  August  1st  and  2nd.  The  messengers 
from  the  several  churches  met  to  confer  on  the 
subject  of  the  faith  and  order  of  the  Association  ; 
and  as  the  term  united  had  not  been  generally 
used  in  the  official  records  of  the  Association,  the 
propriety  of  the  same  was  taken  into  considera- 
tion and  the  faith  and  order  compared  with  that 


38  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

of  the  United  Baptists  of  the  United  States  de- 
scending from  tiie  Union  in  Virginia.  Bro.  Win- 
gate  Jackson  presided  as  Moderator;  it  was 
agreed,  unanimously  received,  and  ordered  to  be 
printed  with  the  Minutes.  From  that  time  to 
the  present,  they  have  been  known  as  United 
Baptists  b}^  using  the  term  in  all  the  official  works 
of  the  associations  and  churches.  For  this  the 
Association  and  churches  have  been  reproached 
on  one  side  for  wearinor  jt  because  it  was  thought 
to  fence  out  Parkerism  or  Two-seed  doctrine  ; 
and  on  the  other  hand,  because  she  could  not  take 
on  the  surname  of  Missionary. 

Bethel  Association  has  not  connected  herself  as 
a  body  with  any  missionary  organization,  foreign 
or  domestic,  outside  of  her  own  bounds  since 
1821,  when  the  correspondence  with  the  Foreign 
Board  of  Missions  was  dropped. 

In  1837,  the  Association  convened  with  Pen- 
dleton Church,  and  correspondence  was  opened 
with  the  Little  Piney  Association  of  the  United 
Baptists,  in  1838.  The  Little  Piney  raised  a 
remonstrance  against  the  term  '^united,"  and  it 
was  dropped  by  it.  They  came  to  the  Bethel 
Association  the  same  year,  to  have  her  also  drop 
the  name,  but  she  refused.  On  this  account, 
strife  was  begun  and  kept  up  three  years  before 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  39 

it  was  quieted,  when  the  correspondence  was  dis- 
continued, with  some  loss  to  the  Bethel.  So  it 
is  to  be  seen  that  most  of  the  troubles  and  con- 
fusion of  the  Bethel  Association  has  grown  out 
of  her  correspondence  with  other  bodies.  Since 
she  has  ceased  her  correspondence  with  other 
associations,  she  has  had,  comparatively,  peace 
and  prosperity ;  her  churches  having  enjoyed 
many  revival  seasons  with  large  increase  to  their 
number. 

The  Bethany  Church  was  the  home  of  the 
beloved  Wra.  Polk.  It  was  organized  in  the  year 
1830,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Chas.  Sinclair,  who 
resided  near  Big  Creek — now  called  Marble 
Creek — eight  miles  south  of  Ironton,  Iron 
county.  James  Williams,  pastor  of  Providence 
Church,  Fredericktown,  and  Littleton  Lunsford, 
from  Washington  county,  probably  a  member  of 
old  Cotar's  Church  in  that  county,  assisted  in  its 
constitution.  The  church  was  organized  with 
eight  members.  Elder  Peter  Williams,  brother 
to  James  Williams,  resided  there  at  the  time  and 
this  church  was  the  fruit  of  his  labors.  But  he 
soon  gave  up  the  charge  of  the  church,  and 
moved  to  Washington  county,  when  the  charge 
fell  to  the  care  of  Elder  Wm.  Polk,  who  became 
its  resident  minister,  and  continued  so  for  about 


40  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

thirty  years.  For  a  time,  until  the  organization 
uf  what  is  now  called  Liberty  Church,  near  to 
where  Bethany  was  organized,  the  meeting  of 
Bethany  Church  was  divided ;  being  held  part  of 
the  time  near  Marble  Creek,  in  the  house  of  Bro. 
Sinclair,  and  part  of  the  time  near  Brewer's 
Creek,  in  the  home  of  Elder  Polk.  In  process 
of  time  both  churches  built  for  themselves  com- 
fortable houses  of  worship,  and  each  has  enjoyed 
many  precious  revivals  with  the  ingathering  of 
many  souls. 

Bethany  Church  has  been  quite  a  fruitful  vine. 
Four  other  churches  were  organized  by  members 
of  this  church  ;  all  of  which  are  yet  living  epistles. 
In  1859,  there  were  two  Sunday-schools,  under 
the  auspices  of  this  mother  church.  During  the 
ministration  of  Elder  Polk  he  baptized  between 
337  and  400  converts  into  the  fellowship  of 
Bethany  Church.  The  writer  of  these  sketches 
now  adds  that  among  that  number  were  his  wife, 
father,  mother,  step-mother,  and  many  other 
relatives  and  friends. 

At  the  meeting,  in  the  year  1838,  of  the  Bethel 
Association  with  the  Hepzibah  Church,  St.  Gen- 
evieve county,  as  mentioned  elsewhere,  the  prop- 
osition to  drop  the  name  "united"  as  submitted 
at  this  meeting,  became  the  rallying  point  against 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  41 

Parkerisni,  which  was  creeping  into  the  Associa- 
tion in  a  disguised  form,  for  advantage.  Elder 
Wm.  Polk,  who  was  one  of  the  strong  combat- 
ants against  this  heresy,  writing  on  this  subject, 
asks,  "What  is  Parkerisni?"  and  in  the  follow- 
ing forcible  manner  answers:  *'It  is  fatalism, 
Two-seedism,  Anti-nomianism,  akin  to  Univer- 
salism,  Deism  and  Atheism — the  worst  of  all  the 
isms  affecting  the  good  morals  and  destroying  the 
peace  of  society,  licensing  men  to  carry  out  their 
wicked  designs,  dishonoring  God,  and  giving  the 
devil  the  honor  of  fathering  a  great  portion  of  the 
world  of  mankind.'*  To  this  he  might  have 
added  with  perfect  justice  that  it  was  the  ground- 
work of  all  Anti-missionism,  and  a  hindrance  to 
every  progressive  enterprise  attempted  by  the 
Baptists  of  Southeast  Missouri ;  that  the  parents 
who  partook  of  this  sour  grape,  have  not  only 
gone  back  on  spiritual  progress,  but  have  set  their 
children's  teeth  on  edge,  to  the  third  and  fourth 
generation  since.  Its  stubborn,  non-complyiug 
disposition  against  almost  every  progressive  work 
is  to  be  seen  more  or  less  throughout  Southeast 
Missouri,  though  we  are  glad  to  say  that  the 
advocates  of  these  is7ns  are  but  few  at  this  time 
and  that  the  true  doctrine  of  God  with  a  progres- 
sive spirit  is  gradually  gaining  ground  through- 
out the  land.     In  1840,  the  Association  met  with 


42  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

Bethany  Church.  At  this  meeting  correspondence 
was  dropped  with  Little  Piiicy  Association,  be- 
cause she  refused  to  continue  correspondence  with 
any  association  having  the  title  * 'united." 

Salem  Church  was  organized  on  the  middle 
fork  of  the  Black  liiver,  in  Reynolds  county,  by 
Elder  Peter  Williams,  who  was  doubtless  its  first 
pastor.  After  he  left,  some  vexed  question 
caused  a  division  which  resulted  in  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  Black  River  Church,  which  went  to 
Franklin  Association.  In  1849,  a  second  division 
was  caused  by  a  question  of  decorum ;  the  por- 
tion that  reorganized  adopted  the  name  of  Mt. 
Pleasant,  and  came  into  the  Bethel  Association 
in  1850,  at  which  time  Salem  was  dropped.  Soon 
after  this,  a  gracious  revival  was  enjoyed  in  her 
midst,  and  thirty-five  converts  were  l)aptized 
into  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Church. 

In  1841,  the  Association  convened  with  New 
Hope  Church,  St.  Francois  county.  At  this 
meeting  Colony  Church  came  into  the  Union, 
having  fifteen  members.  It  was  organized  at  the 
house  of  T.  Parks,  five  miles  east  of  Farmington, 
then  called  Colony  Settlement,  after  which  the 
church  was  named.  In  three  years,  she  had  re- 
ceived twenty-eight  members,  mostly  by  bap- 
tism ;  in  1844,  a  large  list  was   dismissed  to   or- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  43 

ganize  jn  St.  Genevieve  county;  in  1852,  slie  had 
fifteen  baptisms,  but  had  excluded  twenty -nine  as 
the  result  of  a  division  on  the  question  of  re- 
baptism  and  Two-seedism.  This  left  only  thirty- 
four  members,  but  a  blessing  was  in  store ;  in 
six  years  she  gained  144  additions.  This  was 
wonderful !  This  church  now  worships  in  a  large 
brick  church,  two  miles  north  of  Farmington. 
At  this  session,  correspondence  was  opened  with 
the  Cape  Girardeau  Association. 

Following  an  old  custom,  the  Bethel  Baptists 
have  sent  forth  several  important  circular  letters, 
which  were  intended  for  a  stimulus  to  the 
brotherhood  in  the  vindication  of  the  faith  and 
practice  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  I  will  here 
mention  two  of  the  most  important  ones  which 
have  come  under  my  observation.  The  first  was 
the  one  written  by  the  venerable  Father,  Elijah 
O' Bunion,  of  Fredericktown,  by  order  of  the 
Association,  for  the  year  1841,  the  leading 
feature  of  which  was  the  Church  of  Christ 
Measured  and  Designated.  The  letter  was  a 
model  of  general  knowledge  and  deep  research. 

The  second  letter  was  for  1885,  written  by 
Wm.  S.  Barry,  and  ordered  published  in  the 
Minutes  of  that  year.  It  was  a  general  appeal 
for  a  forward  march  all  along  the  line,  maintain- 


44  THE   BAPTISTS   OF 

ing  a  consecrated  ministry,  properly  sustained  b}^ 
the  churches,  for  Sabbath-schools,  prayer-meet- 
ings and  family  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ. 
Certainly  it  breathed  the  true  progressive  spirit, 
and  we  are  glad  to  say  it  was  adopted  by  the  As- 
sociation. 

Having  followed  the  History  of  the  Bethel 
Baptist  Association,  as  furnished  principly  from 
the  writings  of  Eld.  Win.  Polk,  from  its  consti- 
tution in  1816  to  1859,  at  which  date  his  account 
ceases,  we  are  left  to  glean  its  history  from  that 
time  to  1885,  from  other  sources  of  inforniation. 

THE   PROGRESS    OF   BETHEL   ASSOCIATION. 

The  Minutes  of  1859  show  that  the  session  was 
held  that  year  with  New  Hope  Church,  St.  Fran- 
cois county.  Eld  Wm.  Polk  preached  the  Intro- 
ductory Sermon  and  was  also  chosen  Moderator, 
and  Eld.  W.  D.  Hamilton,  Clerk.  Three  new 
churches  came  in  this  year,  viz.  :  Mt.  Zion, 
Locust  Grove,  and  White  Oak  Grove.  Nineteen 
churches  were  I'cported  on  the  list,  eighty-seven 
baptisms  were  reported  for  the  year,  with  a  total 
membership  of  834.  Eld.  K.  Moore  was  ap- 
pointed at  this  meeting,  to  supply  with  preaching 
the  destitute  churches  in  the  bounds  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. For  this  purpose,  a  Committee  was  ap- 
pointed, composed  of  Eld.  Wm.   Polk,  W,  Cov- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  45 

ingtoii,  G.  W.  Reniiick,  W.  Burke  and  C. 
Gideon,  to  collect  funds,  by  subscriptions  or  in 
any  other  manner  they  might  see  proper,  and  to 
settle  with  Eld.  Moore  every  three  months;  for 
the  first  two  months  and  over  a  half,  they  raised 
$C1.65.  From  the  Minutes  of  1856,  it  appears 
that  Eld.  Wm.  Polk  had  been  employed  to  preach 
the  following  year,  in  the  bounds  of  the  Associa- 
tion for  a  stated  salary  of  $500.00  ;  but  only  a 
portion  of  the  year  was  put  in.  In  1860,  the 
session  was  held  with  Pendleton  Church,  St. 
Francois  county.  Correspondence  was  opened 
with  the  St.  Francois  Association,  located  in 
Wayne,  Bollinger  and  Madison  counties.  During 
the  war  period,  work  among  the  churches  and 
associations  was  suspended. 

FEET-WASHING. 

In  1868,  the  session  of  Bethel  Association  was 
held  with  Bethany  Church,  Madison  county.  At 
this  session,  an  article  on  the  subject  of  **feet- 
washing,"  as  set  forth  in  St.  John,  loth  chapter, 
was  adopted  and  ordered  published  in  the 
Minutes,  as  follows : 

We  believe  feet-washing,  as  set  forth  in  the 
13th  chapter  of  St.  John,  to  be  one  of  the  ordi- 
nances of  the  Gospel,  and  that  it  ought  to  be 
observed   by   all   Christians,    as  our    Lord   and 


4n  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

Savior  delivered  it  to  the  disciples,  and  that  it 
ought  to  be  practiced  in  connection  with  the  sup- 
per by  all  baptized  believers.  (The  supper  here 
mentioned  was  not  the  Lord's  Supper,  but  was 
eaten  at  the  house  of  Simon,  in  Bethany,  where 
the  example  of  feet-washing  was  instituted  two 
days  before  the  Passover  Supper  in  Jerusalem,  at 
which  time  and  place  the  Lord  instituted  His 
Supper.) 

The  itinerant,  or  mission  work  of  the  Bethel 
Association  has  been  principally  confined  to  her 
own  bounds  since  the  year  1821,  when  corre- 
spondence with  Foreign  Mission  Boards  was 
dropped.  The  next  year,  1822,  however,  in  the 
interest  of  the  home  work,  they  sent  three  mis- 
sionaries, viz. :  Elders  Street,  Clark,  and 
Edwards,  to  preach  and  organize  churches  in 
Northern  Arkansas.  Under  their  labors,  two 
churches,  Union,  and  Little  Flock,  (situated  in 
Lawrence  county.  Ark.,)  came  into  the  Associa- 
tion. In  1827,  at  the  session  held  with  Provi- 
dence Church,  Fredericktown,  Madison  county, 
a  petition  from  Little  Flock,  Arkansas,  and  New 
Hope,  Missouri,  was  presented,  "Praying  the 
Association  to  advise  plans  for  the  preaching  of 
the  Gospel  to  the  destitute."  The  Association 
appointed  a   committee,  consisting   of   Wingate 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  47 

Jackson,  James  Williams,  David  Orr,  and  John 
Farrar,  who  were  to  report  thereon  to  the  Asso- 
ciation the  next  year. 

In  1856  Eld.  Wm.  Polk  was  sent  by  the  Asso- 
ciation at  a  salary  of  $500.00,  to  preach  to  the 
distitute  in  the  bounds  of  the  Association ;  but  as 
all  the  means  were  not  raised,  only  a  part  of  the 
year's  work  was  reported  the  next  year,  1857. 
In  1859,  Eld.  Robt.  Moore  was  sent  to  preach  to 
the  destitute,  for  which  a  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  raise  money  and  pay  him  quarterly. 
From  the  foreo-oinoj  itinerant  work  of  the  Bethel 
Association,  it  is  to  be  seen,  on  a  line  of  com- 
parison with  other  Associations  of  Southeast  Mis- 
souri, that  Bethel  set  an  example  which  has  been 
followed  more  or  less  by  all,  as  only  three  or  four 
had  taken  any  interest  in  Foreign  Mission  work 
until  after  the  civil  war.  Of  her  Sunday-school 
work,  it  is  to  be  observed  that  her  churches  and 
people  have,  at  different  times  and  in  different 
ways,  engaged  in  Sunday-school  work,  now  and 
then,  all  the  way  down  the  seventy-two  years  of 
her  existence.  The  main  thing  lacking  with  them, 
as  with  nearly  all  the  other  Associations  of  South- 
east Missouri,  was  not  to  have  declared  long  ago 
in  favor  of  Baptist  Sunday-schools. 

At  different  times  she  has  passed  resolutions 


48  THE   BAPTISTS    OF 

against  the  evils  of  intemperance,  and  of  late 
years,  against  her  churches  receiving  alien  im- 
mersions. They  have  uniformly  stood  against 
the  evils  of  free  communion  with  other  sects, 
considerino:  it  a  mixinoj  of  the  Church  of  Christ 
with  the  world.  She  has  tried  to  stand  to  the 
apostolic  order  of  Christianity. 

OF   ITS    SUCCESS. 

The  Bethel  Association  has  been  a  fruitful  vine, 
having  dismissed  eight  churches  in  1824,  to  form 
the  Cape  Girardeau  Association  ;  four,  in  1820,  to 
form  an  association  in  Northern  Arkansas;  two, 
in  1831,  to  form  the  Franklin;  one  for  a  new  as- 
sociation supposed  to  be  the  Black  River ;  one  for 
St.  Francois,  and  nine  in  1859  to  form  the  Cen- 
tral Missouri  Association, — a  total  of  twenty-five 
churches.  Doubtless,  none  other  has  done  more 
in  this  respect. 

Of  the  first  ministers,  not  mentioned  else- 
where biographically  in  connection  with  the  work 
of  the  Bethel  Association  and  its  first  churches, 
we  will  now  mention  Eld.  Wilson  Thompson,  the 
beloved  Thomas  Parish  Green,  the  great  Sunday- 
school  worker  of  Southeast  iMissouri,  and  last  but 
not  least,  the  beloved  William  Polk,  whose  life- 
w^ork  was  finished  at  the  close  of  the  civil  war. 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  49 

ELD.    WILSON    THOMPSON. 

Eld.  Win.  Thompson  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
preachers  of  Missouri,  and  although  not  among 
those  who  formed  Bethel  Association,  nor  living 
in  the  state  at  that  time,  yet  such  was  his  connec- 
tion with  the  first  Baptist  churches  in  Southeast 
Missouri,  that  he  merits  a  place  in  this  history, 
because  of  his  great  work  in  the  Territory. 

He  was  a  descendant  of  a  respectable  Welch 
and  English  family,  the  eldest  son  of  Closs  and 
Rebecca  Thompson,  born  Aug.  17th,  1788,  in 
Woodford  county,  Ky.  His  ancestors  were 
nearly  all  Baptists.  His  first  awakening  was  a 
baptismal  scene ;  he  fled  from  the  water's  edge 
into  an  adjoining  forest  and  fell  prostrate  on  the 
ground.  Thick  darkness  gathered  around  him, 
so  that  he  could  scarcely  see  anything,  though  the 
sun  was  shining  brightly.  Being  led  finally  to 
consider  the  mediatori^^l  and  sacrificial  work  of 
Christ  for  him  as  a  sinner,  light  shone  around 
about  him,  and  he  was  filled  with  joy  and  peace. 
He  was  then  only  a  youth  ;  when  he  was  about 
twenty  years  of  age  he  commenced  to  preach,  or 
trying  to  preach,  as  he  called  it.  However,  some 
of  his  early  efforts  were  attended  with  wonderful 
results.  In  May,  1810,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Grigg,  of  Campbell  county,  Ky.,  and  emi- 


50  THE    BAFTISTS    OF 

grated  to  Missouri  the  following  year,  settling  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Jackson,  Cape  Girardeau 
county.  For  a  time  he  taught  school  here  and 
preached  as  opportunity  afforded.  The  inhabitants 
then  lived  in  small  settlements  of  log  cabins.  His 
preaching  was  well  received.  A  revival  in  Old 
Bethel  Church  was  the  result.  His  uncle,  Ben- 
jamin Thompson,  was  among  the  converts  and 
subsequently  became  a  minister.  The  revival 
continued  about  eighteen  months,  and  was  by  no 
means  confined  to  the  limits  of  the  Bethel  Church 
where  it  commenced;  but  spread  into  distant 
settlements,  reaching  as  far  as  Colwell  settlement, 
some  sixty  miles  distant.  Bro.  Thompson  says  : 
♦'During  this  revival,  I  baptized  400  or  500  con- 
verts, some  old,  some  young,  some  white  and 
some  black  -,  but  all  professed  to  be  sinners,  and 
to  trust  in  Christ  as  their  Savior."  This  was  a 
wonderful  work  for  those  times  and  circum- 
stances. Indeed  it  would  be  wonderful  even  for 
the  present  time.  About  the  close  of  this 
work  of  grace,  in  the  years  of  1812  and  1813, 
the  Bethel  Church  numbered  186  members.  I  will 
now  relate  an  incident  of  this  great  revival  time  : 
A  negro  man  named  Dick  was  converted,  who 
then  belonged  to  Judge  Green,  an  avowed  infidel, 
though  otherwise  a  good  citizen.     Mr.  Green  for- 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  51 

bade  Dick's  baptism,  ttireatining  to  wliip  liim 
and  sue  the  men  who  would  baptize  him.  Thus 
the  matter  went  on  for  about  three  months  after 
Dick's  conversion.  Still  he  attended  Eld. 
Thompson's  meeting,  and  finally  asked  to  be  bap- 
tized. 

*'Why,"  said  Mr.  Thompson,  **are  you  not 
afraid  of  your  master?" 

**I  got  two  masters,"  he  replied,  **one  is 
greater  than  the  other.  My  great  Master  says  be 
baptized,  and  I  wish  to  obey  Him."  The  bap- 
tism was  performed.  The  two  daughters  of 
Judge  Green  witnessed  it,  but  decided  to  say 
nothing  about  it  to  their  father,  and  thus  save 
Dick  a  whipping.  In  about  two  weeks  after  this. 
Judge  Green,  who  had  been  away,  returned  home 
in  a  fine  humor;  seeing  how  things  looked  around 
his  farm  and  barn,  he  began  to  praise  Dick  in  the 
highest  terms,  as  follows  : 

**Dick  has  always  been  one  of  my  best  ser- 
vants, the  horses  shine  from  his  rubbing  them 
early  and  late,  and  he  keeps  everything  in  the 
best  of  order." 

The  girls,  thinking  this  a  good  time  to  tell 
about  Dick,  said,  "Fath3r,  we  can  tell  you  what 
has  made  Dick  so  much  better  of  late." 

**What  has?"  said  he. 


02  THE   BAPTISTS    CF 

*'Why  a  few  weeks  ago,  w^e  were  at  Bethel 
Church,  at  meeting,  and  Mr.  Thompson  baptized 
Dick,  and  he  seemed  so  happy  when  they  all  gave 
him  tlieir  hand  and  called  him  brother." 

**Did  you  see  Mr.  Thompson  baptize  him?" 
said  the  Judge. 

"Yes  sir,  we  saw  it  all." 

*'Well,"  said  the  Judge,  ''I  wish  to  God  he 
would  baptize  all  my  negroes,  if  it  would  make 
them  as  good  as  Dick!" 

Wilson  Thompson  was  ordained  to  the  full 
work  of  the  ministry  some  time  after  he  com- 
menced preaching.  His  ordination  occurred  in 
April,  1812,  at  the  request  of  Bethel  Church, — 
Elds.  John  Tanner  and  Stilly  acting  as  a  presby- 
tery. The  following  July  he  was  chosen  pastor 
of  Bethel  Church.  In  1813  he  removed  to  the 
state  of  Ohio,  having  spent  a  little  over  two  years 
in  Missouri.     (See  Life  of  Thompson.) 

THOMAS    PARISH    GREEN. 

Connected  with  the  early  history  of  the  Bethel 
Association  was  a  most  worthy  minister,  who  be- 
came identified  with  the  Bethel  Association  and 
its  work  in  the  year  1817.  We  allude  to  Thomas 
Parish  Green.  Few  men  have  done  more  than 
he  has  to  build  up  the  Baptist  cause  in  Southeast 
Missouri.      He    was   born   in   Chatham   county, 


SOUTPIEAST   MISSOURI.  53 

North  Carolina,  June  3rd,  1790.  In  1807  he 
emigrated  with  his  father  and  family  to  Maury 
county,  Tenn.,  where,  under  the  ministry  of  Eld. 
John  Record,  he  was  converted  and  baptized  into 
the  fellowship  of  the  Labanon  Baptist  Church  in 
the  spring  of  1812.  In  1817  he  removed  to  Mis- 
souri and  settled  in  Cape  Girardeau  county, 
where  he  resided  most  of  the  time  until  his  death. 
From  his  entrance  upon  the  work,  he  became  an 
ardent  Sunday-school  and  Mission  worker,  for 
which  it  is  said  he  met  considerable  opposition 
from  churches  that  were  tinctured  with  Anti-no- 
mianism,  opposing  both  Sunday-schools  and  Mis- 
sion work.  Amidst  all  these  difficulties,  he  per- 
severed until  he  saw  much  good  resulting  from 
his  labors  in  the  Bethel,  the  first  pioneer  Associa- 
tion of  the  state.  He  was  the  author  of  the  reso- 
lution on  Foreign  Mission  Work  adopted  by  the 
Bethel  Association  at  its  session  in  1818.  In  the 
years  of  1829  and  30,  he  published  the  Western 
Pioneer,  at  Rock  Springs,  Illinois.  In  1831,  he 
was  agent  for  the  American  Sunday-school  Union 
for  Southeast  Missouri.  In  this  work,  he 
travelled  extensively,  establishing  schools  and 
furnishing  libraries  in  the  following  counties,  to 
wit:  New  Madrid,  Scott,  Cape  Girardeau, 
Perry,  Madison,  St.  Francois,  Wayne  and  Stod- 


54  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

dard  ;  for  which  great  work  in  the  interests  of  the 
Sunday-school  cause,  he  here  has  special  mention. 
In  1835,  he  removed  to  St.  Louis  and  became 
pastor  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  for  that 
year ;  during  four  months  of  this  time,  he  kept 
the  Bible  Tract  and  Sunday-school  Depository  in 
St.  Louis. 

Bro.  Green  was  an  extraordinary  man.  Raised 
without  educational  advantages,  he  made  himself 
a  scholar,  and  thereby  one  of  the  most  useful 
public  servants.  The  labors  of  this  faithful  man 
of  God  were  most  signally  blessed,  having  brought 
hundreds  to  Christ  in  all  the  different  parts  of 
Southeast  Missouri. 

Eld.  Green  died  in  the  triumph  of  a  personal 
faith  in  Christ,  bearing  his  sufferings,  which  were 
great,  with  calmness  and  patience,  saying  to  Eld. 
John  Clark  (to  whose  w^ritings  we  are  indebted 
for  many  of  the  facts  concerning  him),  that  for 
thirty  years  he  had  labored  in  the  ministry  ;  and 
only  regretted  that  he  had  not  been  more  faith- 
ful, although  he  had  from  the  beginning  conse- 
crated himself  entirely  to  the  work,  sometimes  at 
great  sacrifice ,  yet  he  did  not  regret  what  he  had 
lost ;  and  if  it  was  to  be  done  over,  he  would  en- 
ter the  ministry  again.  In  his  dying  hours,  on 
July  11th,   1843,  like  one  of  old,  he  called  his 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  55 

family  and  friends  around  his  bedside  and  gave 
them  an  affectionate  farewell,  admonishing  them 
to  prepare  to  meet  him  in  heaven.  He  died  at 
his  home  in  Cape  Girardeau  City,  Mo. 

LIFE  OF  ELDER  WM.  POLK. 

We  have  followed  with  pleasure  the  life  sketches 
of  a  number  of  the  faithful  servants  of  the  Bethel 
Association;  but  none  is  of  more  importance  than 
he  of  whom  we  now  write ;  one  whose  home  often 
sheltered  us,  under  whose  ministry  we  were 
brought  up,  and  by  whose  hands  we  were  bap- 
tized into  the  fellowship  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 
Not  only  does  the  writer  say  this  for  himself,  but 
it  is  doubtless  a  truth  expressed  for  hundreds — 
yea,  we  may  say  thousands — in  memory  of  this 
humble  man  of  God. 

Elder  Wm.  Polk,  this  great  Southeast  Missouri 
preacher,  was  for  thirty-five  years  a  member  of 
the  Bethel  Association,  and,  for  thirty  years  of 
that  time,  one  of  its  most  influential  ministers. 
He  was  born  in  the  State  of  Georgia,  January 
18ht,  1806,  and  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  at 
the  age  of  twenty-three  years.  He  commenced 
preaching  in  1831,  -and  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Sharp,  where  Arcadia  lies  in  what  is  now  Iron 
county.  Shortly  after  their  marriage  they  set- 
tled    near    Brewer's    Creek,    Madison    county. 


56  THE    BAPTISTS    OP 

where  they  resided  until  the  death  of  Elder  Polk 
which  occurred  Nov.  1st,  1864.  Eight  children 
were  born  to  them,  seven  of  whom  they  raised — 
five  sons  and  two  daughters. 

He  was,  doubtless,  one  of  the  most  energetic, 
and  by  far  the  most  influential  and  popular 
preacher  in  Southeast  Missouri.  He  was  so  sym- 
pathetic, kind-hearted  and  truly  pious,  as  wellas 
faithful  to  all  his  engagements,  that  none  doubted 
his  high  calling.  Some  writer  has  said  that 
he  always  held  the  public  confidence  regard- 
less of  sectarian  prejudice  or  political  differences, 
which  was,  in  a  measure,  unparalleled.  The  elo- 
quence or  fame  of  other  ministers  never  drew 
such  crowded  houses. 

He  was  often  chosen  Moderator  of  his  Asso- 
ciation and  was  an  able  defender  of  the  cause. 
During  the  storm  of  Parkerism,  first  and  last,  he 
served  as  pastor  of  most  of  the  leading  churches 
of  his  Association.  Like  nearly  all  of  the  min- 
isters of  the  Bethel  Association,  he  believed  that 
feet-washing,  as  set  forth  in  St.  John,  13th  chap- 
ter, was  one  of  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  and 
should  be  regarded  as  such.  Although  he  was 
opposed  to  the  term  missionary ,  he  was  by  no 
means  an  anti-missionary  in  faith  or  practice,  (as 
was  charged  by  some)  but,   as  was  clear  to  be 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  57 

seen  from  the  sentiment  advocated  in  the  Ironton 
Baptist  Journal  (of  which  he  was  editor  and 
proprietor),  he  was  a  progressive  man.  He 
started  this  periodical  as  a  monthly  paper  in 
January,  1859,  and  for  about  three  years  con- 
tinued a  successful  issue,  until  it  was  suspended 
by  reason  of  the  civil  war. 

In  sadness  and  shame  for  our  country,  we  have 
to  say,  that  this  good  man  was  shot  from  his 
horse,  in  front  of  his  own  door,  by  a  squad  of 
men  dressed  in  the  federal  uniform,  Nov.  1st, 
1864.  His  body  was  carried  to  his  house  by  the 
writer,  assisted  by  Rev.  John  Martin,  Joseph 
Jones  and  J.  C.  Downs,  and  after  preparation 
was  laid  to  rest  in  the  Bethany  Church  Cemetery. 

THE  MINISTRY  OF  THE  BETHEL   ASSOCIATION  SINCE 
THE  WAR. 

In  the  conclusion  of  this  lengthy  chapter,  it  is 
but  right  that  mention  be  made  of  the  ministers 
who  shouldered  the  great  responsibilities  of  the 
cause  of  Bethel  Association.  They  were  com- 
paratively young  and  undisciplined  to  undertake 
such  a  work  just  at  the  time  when  the  smoke  of 
battle  from  the  civil  war  was  clearing  away.  In 
consequence  of  this  political  strife,  the  member- 
ship of  churches  was  scattered,  and  all  civil 
society  more  or  less  broken  up.      With  malice. 


58  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

hatred  and  revenge  like  a  dark  cloud  overshadow- 
ing all  the  land,  was  it  not  a  time  to  try  men's 
faith,  patience  and  forbearance?  Yes,  and  more  ; 
was  it  not  a  time  to  see  who  could  be  the  champion 
for  peace,  going  forth  scattering  seeds  of  kind- 
ness, brhiging  order  out  of  confusion,  restoring 
peace  to  distracted  societies  and  making  the  land 
of  desolation  bloom  as  the  Rose  of  Sharon?  Who 
could  do  this  and  not  be  charged  with  impunity 
to  some  party  ?  Indeed  it  was  an  hour  for  effort 
and  great  sacrifice,  for  the  sake  of  seeing  return- 
ing peace  once  more  dawn  upon  a  country 
shrouded  in  gloomy  despair. 

There  were  but  three  of  the  old  ministers  of 
the  Bethel  Association  left,  to-wit,  Elders  Harvey 
Young,  W.  Hamilton  and  Cleavlin.  These  being 
old  and  feeble,  the  principal  labor  fell  on  the 
young  brethren  who,  though  inexperienced  in 
such  work,  went  to  work  to  gather  the  member- 
ship of  the  churches,  restore  order,  and  once 
more  get  them  to  meet  as  brethren  in  an  associa- 
tional  capacity  and  begin  the  cultivation  of  the  field 
which  had  so  long  been  untouched.  These  breth- 
ren were  Elders  Robert  C.  Martin,  J.  C,  Perkins, 
John  Martin,  Cordeal  Horn,  David  Matkins  and 
Samuel  Beird.  Not  one  of  the  number  had  served 
as  pastor  up  to  that  time,  so   far  as  we  know, 


SOUTHExVST    MISSOURI.  59 

with  the  exception  of  C.  Horn  ;  but  they  were 
looked  to,  to  start  and  carry  forward  this  work, 
which  they  did  to  the  satisfaction  of  most  all  of 
the  churches  of  the  Association  in  a  comparatively 
short  time. 

ELDER  HARVEY  YOUNG. 

Of  the  old  ministers  above  named,  who  took 
part  in  this  work,  we  will  mention  Elder  Harvey 
Young,  who  died  at  his  home  a  few  miles  north 
of  Farmington,  some  two  years  ago,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-two  years.  He  was  a  native 
of  Virginia.  We  are  not  informed  as  to  his  early 
life  and  training.  He  came  to  this  State  about 
forty-five  years  ago,  a  licentiate  preacher.  A 
few  years  after,  he  was  ordained  to  the  full  work 
of  the  Gospel  ministry.  Although  a  man  of 
moderate  ability,  yet  he  was  always  ready  to  do 
his  part  when  called  upon.  It  is  said  all  his 
public  life  was  fifty  years. 

ELDER  JAMES  CLEAVLIN. 

In  regard  to  the  life  of  Elder  James  Cleavlin 
we  are  not  informed  except  that  he  has  been  a 
faithful  worker  for  the  Bethel  Association  for 
probably  forty  years.  He  resides  at  New  Ten- 
nessee Church,  St.  Genevieve  county,  at  this 
time,  but  the  infirmities  of  old  age  hinder  him 
from  farther  work. 


60  THE   BAPTISTS   OF 

ELDERS  ROBERT  C.  AND  JOHN  MARTIN. 

As  Robert  C.  and  John  Martin  are  brothers  in 
the  flesh,  we  mention  them  together,  as  a  some- 
what sinofular  incidence  of  brothers  working^ 
together.  They  are  descendents  of  an  old  Vir- 
ginia farnily  of  Baptists,  who  came  to  Missouri 
in  quite  an  early  time,  and  stopped  by  the  Black 
River  in  Reynolds  county,  shortly  after  which 
their  father  died,  leaving  their  widowed  mother 
with  her  family  to  struggle  on  among  strangers, 
with  the  adverse  circumstances  of  poverty  and  the 
care  of  helpless  children.  But  a  true  Christian 
mother,  such  as  those  boys  had,  knows  no  bounds 
to  care,  anxiety  and  labor  until  her  family  is 
raised,  and,  if  possible,  enlisted  for  Christ.  As 
she  once  said  to  the  writer :  "I  have  often  prayed 
that  I  might  raise  at  least  one  boy  a  preacher  for 
Christ."  But  she  lived  to  realize  more  than 
that ;  since  all  her  children  were  converted  to 
Christ,  and  in  place  of  one,  all  three  of  her  sons 
were  enlisted  as  embassadors  for  Christ.  One 
son,  Hudson  Martin,  died  shortly  after  he 
acknowledged  his  calling  to  the  work. 

The  other  two  brothers,  Robert  C.  and  Joim 
Martin  have  been  singularly  blessed.  They  both 
settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bethany  Church, 
becoming  members  together.     They  were  trained 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  61 

by  the  one  pastor,  Elder  Polk,  by  whom  they 
were  both  baptized.  In  the  bounds  of  this 
church,  both  began  in  the  ministry,  and  by  its 
order  both  were  ordained.  Both  married  wives 
from  the  same  community,  who  were  members  of 
the  same  church  with  their  husbands.  John,  the 
elder,  was  first  married  to  Miss  Mima  Wilborn, 
who  died  after  a  few  vears.  His  second  marriagfe 
was  to  Miss  Clementine  Downs,  daughter  of  Wm. 
Downs,  clerk  of  Bethany  Church  for  thirty  years. 
Kobert  C.  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  O'Banion, 
grand-daughter  of  Elijah  O'Banion,  author  of  the 
famous  circular  letter  of  1841.  For  twenty 
years  these  two  brothers  have  labored  harmoni- 
ously together  in  the  interest  of  Bethel  Associa- 
tion, for  which  reason  they  have  been  mentioned 
together. 

ELDER  F.  B.  MATHEWS. 

Residing  at  Creek  Nation,  Madison  county,  in 
which  community  he  w^as,  we  think,  born  and 
reared,  is,  at  this  time,  though  comparatively 
young,  one*of  the  most  influential  and  successful 
ministers  of  the  Bethel  Association.  Elder  F. 
B.  Mathews  is  a  man  of  moderate  education,  but 
is  an  earnest,  impressive  speaker.  He  has  con- 
ducted several  important  revival  meetings  with 
great   success   to   the   churches    of   his   charge. 


62  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

Having  served  as  pastor  of  several  churches  in 
the  southern  bounds  of  Bethel  Association,  he  is 
regarded  as  among  its  worthy  and  faithful  ser- 
vants, friendly  to  every  progressive  work. 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  63 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE   CAPE    GIRARDEAU   ASSOCIATION. 

At  its  session  in  1824,  as  heretofore  mentioned, 
the  Bethel  Association  dismissed  nine  churches  to 
form  the  Cape  Girardeau  Association,  viz. :  Dry 
Creek,  Bethel,  Tywappity,  Clear  Creek,  Apple 
Creek,  Ebenezer,  Big  Prairie,  Hebron  and  Shiloh. 

This  second  Association  in  Southeast  Missouri 
was  organized  at  Hebron  Church,  Cape  Girardeau 
county,  by  a  convention  of  messengers  which  met 
on  June  12th,  and  closed  on  the  14th,  1824. 
Among  the  ministers  present,  we  find  the  names 
of  Benjamin  Thompson,  James  Williams,  Edward 
Keer,  James  P.  Edwards,  Jeremiah  Brown,  David 
Orr,  Thomas  P.  Green  ;  corresponding  ministers, 
Wingate  Jackson,  James  Holbert,  John  M.  Peck. 
This  Association  was  organized  decidedly  upon 
the  principle  of  the  Missionary  United  Baptists, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  fact  that  at  its  first  meet- 
ing, a  resolution  was  adopted  as  follows,  that  one 
person  be  appointed  in  each  Church  for  the  pur- 
pose of  carrying  into  effect  the  eighth  article  of 
the  Constitution,  which  reads  thus  : 


(5l  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

The  funds  of  the  Association  shall  be  raised  by 
the  voluntary  contributions  of  the  churches,  or 
individuals,  out  of  which  shall  be  supplied  the 
expenses  of  printing  the  Minutes,  expenses  of 
the  Clerk,  and  corresponding  members  appointed 
to  other  Associations  ;  and  the  surplus,  if  any, 
shall  be  applied  in  any  way  to  promote  the 
spiritual  benefit  of  Zion,  in  the  limits  of  this 
Association  or  vicinity.  The  Association  may 
adopt  measures  for  the  purpose  of  raising  contri- 
butions, which  shall  be  added  to  the  surplus  fund 
for  the  purpose  of  enabling  ministers  to  preach 
to  the  destitute  churches  of  this  body,  or  where 
the  Association  may  direct. 

For  eight  or  nine  years,  these  sentiments  were 
carried  out  unmolested,  until  Parkerism,  or  Anti- 
missionism  (the  seeds  of  which  had  been  sown  in 
the  Mother  Association)  began  to  exhibit  its 
baneful  out-croppings  in  this  new  body.  The 
result  was  that,  in  1840,  the  advocates  of  the 
original  principles  withdrew,  and  formed  what  is, 
or  was  called  the  New  Cape  Girardeau  Associa- 
tion ;  but  which  was  properly,  and  is  yet,  the 
Cape  Girardeau  Baptist  Association,  since  those 
claiming  to  be  the  old  Association  not  only 
changed  the  Constitution,  but  entirely  destroyed 
the  entire  faith  and   practice   of   the   body,    by 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  65 

adopting  a  new  Constitution.  The  ministers 
heading  this  un-Baptistic  movement  were  Jere- 
miah Brown,  Benjamin  Thompson,  and  it  is  said, 
but  not  positively,  James  Williams. 

From  1840  to  1860  the  Association  continued 
a  slow  but  steady  progress.  Missionaries  were 
kept  on  the  field  much  of  the  time.  Sabbath 
School  and  educational  interests  were  fostered, 
and  means  for  the  promotion  of  the  Gospel  were 
raised  according  to  the  original  plan  so  unani- 
mously agreed  upon  at  its  start  in  1824.  The 
Anti-mission  party  rapidly  retrograded  into 
oblivion,  and  has  long  since  become  extinct.  At 
this  time,  1886,  it  is  almost  forgotten  ;  such  is 
the  result  of  unfaithfulness  to  God. 

But  this  faithful  Association  was  soon  to  be 
tried  as  by  fire.  In  1861  the  civil  war  broke 
out,  and  as  this  Association  was  located  in  the 
counties  of  Perry,  Cape  Girardeau,  Scott  and 
Mississippi,  all  bordering  on  the  Mississippi 
Kiver,  along  which  the  munitions  of  war  and 
troops  of  soldiers  were  shipped  and  scattered  to 
all  important  points,  trouble  began,  and  soon  a 
goodly  field,  religiously  cultivated  and  blooming 
with  peace  and  prosperity,  was  a  desolate  wasto 
and  a  howling  wilderness,  in  which  even  strong 
men  trembled.    Church  meetings  stopped  and 


66  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

Associations  did  not  meet,  with  few  exceptions. 
The  Cape  Girardeau  Association  held  no  meet- 
ings for  two  years.  In  1863,  however,  messen- 
gers from  eight  churches  met  at  Goshen  Church 
and  held  a  short  but  harmonious  session.  J.  G. 
Rutter,  J.  C.  Maple,  G.  W.  Coker,  J.  H.  Clark, 
A.  McKelvey,  J.  Wyatt  and  T.  B.  Turnbaugh 
wer6  the  ministers  in  attendance.  From  the  let- 
ters, the  condition  of  the  field  was  clearly 
brought  to  light.  Church  meetings  had  compara- 
tively stopped  ;  Sabbath-schools  were  broken  up, 
and  prayer-meetings  were  scarcely  thought  of. 
Most  of  the  ministers  either  fled  or  were  driven 
away;  leaving  a  few,  however,  to  tell  the  affect- 
ing story.  Some  churches  did  not  hear  a  sermon 
for  years,  such  were  the  oppressive  measures  of 
test  oaths  and  other  things. 

ELD.    JOHN   H.    CLARK. 

Under  the  trying  circumstances  just  mentioned, 
it  is  but  fitting  that  we  mention  Bro.  John  H. 
Clark,  who,  from  1864  to  1867,  was  the  only 
minister  belonojinoj  to  the  Association  who  did 
ministerial  work  in  all  its  bounds.  For  several 
years  he  stood  bravely  alone  in  this  desert,  even 
in  the  presence  of  those  who  sought  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  cause. 

John  Henry  Clark,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  67 

was  born  in  London  county,  Virginia,  December 
12th,  1812.  When  he  was  about  sixteen  years  of 
age  he  was  converted  to  Christ,  together  with 
three  of  his  sisters;  was  soon  after  baptized  by 
Rev.  W.  F.  Broaddus  into  the  fellowship  of  Long 
Branch  Church  in  his  native  county.  He  moved 
to  Missouri  in  June,  1839,  and  settled  in  Cape 
Girardeau,  soon  after  which  he  united  with  the 
church  in  that  phice.  By  this  church  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  August,  1842,  and  ordained 
December,  28th,  1844.  Soon  after  his  ordina- 
tion he  was  called  to  its  pastorate,  but  only 
filled  this  office  a  few  months,  as  he  was  not  will- 
ing to  give  up  his  appointment  in  the  country. 
However,  he  gave  the  church  in  town  two  Sun- 
days in  the  month,  until  Rev.  S.  H.  Ford,  now 
of  St.  Louis,  succeeded  to  this  pastorate.  During 
Bro.  Clark's  boyhood,  he  manifested  some  taste 
for  the  languages  and  displayed  remarkable 
ability  for  acquiring  them.  For  a  time  he 
preached  at  a  school-house  about  twelve  miles 
from  Cape  Girardeau.  Seeing  no  visible  results 
from  his  labors,  he  concluded  to  give  this  church 
up  ;  but  being  urged  by  his  sister,  Mrs.  Jordan, 
to  continue;  he  did  so.  In  1861,  such  a  deep 
feeling  was  manifested,  that  he  concluded  to  hold 
k  meeting  of  days  and  sent  for  Bro.  J,  C.  Maple. 


68  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

They  held  a  meeting,  the  result  of  which  was 
that  in  the  old  log-house,  where  he  had  been  work- 
ing, they  constituted  a  church  of  thirty  members, 
called  Bubble's  Creek  Church,  after  the  name  of 
the  stream  near  by.  To  this  body  he  ministered 
until  his  death. 

On  returning  home  sick  one  night  from  Eben- 
ezer  (nhie  miles  from  the  Cape),  he  said  to  his 
wife:  **My  work  is  done."  This  illness  was 
long  and  painful ;  but  borne  with  a  patience 
which  astonished  all.  He  bade  his  family  and 
friends  farewell,  leaving  messages  for  his 
churches,  and  on  the  4th  of  April,  1869,  he 
breathed  his  last.  He  was  one  of  the  good  men 
debarred  by  the  famous,  or  rather  we  should  saj- 
infamous^  test  oath^  which  hindered  him  from 
preaching  the  Annual  Sermon  of  the  Cape  Girar- 
deau Association  in  1865. 

We  will  not  detain  the  readers  of  this  history 
with  biographical  sketches  of  the  ministers  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  the  organization  of  this 
body,  since  the  most  of  them  have  been  mentioned 
in  the  chapter  on  the  Bethel  Association,  in  the 
sketches  of  which  the  nine  churches  also  appear- 
ing in  this  orojanization  have  been  referred  to. 

Having  brieliy  alluded  to  the  organization  of 
this  body,  its  practice  and  progress  from  1824  to 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  69 

1865,  including  an  abbreviated  reference  to  the 
trying  circumstances  of  Aiiti-missionism  and  those 
of  the  war,  we  will  now  proceed  with  the  farther 
progress  of  this  body,  in  which  a  new  income  of 
ministers  and  churches  are  to  be  mentioned. 

From  1867  to  1870,  the  Minutes  show  that  this 
body  had  regular  meetings  and  that  the  churches 
prospered  greatly,  with  an  increase  of  ministerial 
aid,  as  well  as  in  the  number  of  communicants. 
In  1867,  G.  F.  Brayton  and  J.  G.  Searer  ;  in 
1868, 'James  Reid ;  and  in  1869,  J.  S.  Jordan 
came  into  the  bounds  of  this  Association.  In 
1867,  Jonas  Hoffman  was  ordained  ;  B.  L.  Bow- 
man in  1869  ;  and  Bro.  John  T.  Ford  in  1870. 
With  this  increased  strength  the  Association  was 
now  prepared  for  grand  work. 

At  its  session  in  1870,  an  amended  Constitu- 
tion was  adopted,  which  provides  that  the  Asso- 
ciation shall  be  composed  of  life  members  and 
messengers  sent  by  the  churches.  Ten  dollars 
given  at  one  time  made  one  a  life  member.  This 
plan,  not  being  a  constitutional  usage  of  this,  or  any 
other  district  association  in  Southeast  Missouri, 
proved  a  failure.  We  have  always  thought  it 
better  for  small  ships  to  keep  near  to  the  shore. 
This  unwise  step,  however,  was  soon  supple- 
mented by  a  return  to  the  old  or  original  usage. 


70  THE   BAPTISTS    OF 

after  which  prosperity  and  progress  rolled  on  as 
before.  Six  years  afterwards,  in  1876,  the  Asso- 
ciation numbered  twenty-nine  churches. 

In  this  year  eight  or  nine  churches  were  lettered 
off  to  form  the  Charleston  Association.  lu  1878 
her  ministers  were  T.  A.  Bowman,  John  T.  Ford, 
C.  B.  Ford,  J.  F.  Godwin,  Z.  A.  Hoppas,  J.  M. 
Warren  and  W.  IL  Welker,  with  a  membership 
of  557.  She  had  also  the  usual  standing  com- 
mittees on  Sabbath-schools,  Missions,  Religious 
Literature,  Education  and  Faniily  Worship. 

In  1881,  the  session  was  held  at  Cape  Girar- 
deau ;  Eld.  Joshua  Hickman  was  chosen  Modera- 
tor, and  T.  A.  Bowman,  Clerk,  There  were  only 
twenty  baptisms  reported  this  year  ;  $125.20  had 
been  expended  on  the  field,  Bro.  T.  A.  Bowman 
being  the  Missionary. 

Now  will  be  mentioned  the  name,  place,  date 
and  organization  of  several  of  the  leading 
churches:  Jackson  Church,  located  in  the  town 
of  Jackson,  was  organized  in  April,  1824,  princi- 
pally of  members  from  the  old  Bethel  Church 
(the  first  Church  of  Christ  established  west  of  the 
great  river),  organized  in  1806,  and  w^hich  built 
the  first  house  of  worship, — a  log  house.  A  gavel 
made  from  a  piece  of  one  of  the  sills  of  this 
house  was  presented  to  the  General  Association, 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  71 

in  1875,  by  Bro.  J.  C.  Maple,  as  a  memento  of 
this  first  chui'cii,  which  is  now  extinct.  Bro. 
Maple  was  then  Moderator  of  the  General  Asso- 
ciation of  Missouri  Baptists. 

Cape  Girardeau  Church  was  organized  in 
August,  1834,  with  nine  members,  by  Eld. 
Thomas  P.  Green,  in  the  City  of  Cape  Girardeau. 
It  has  a  neat  brick  house  of  worship,  and  has  had 
for  its  pastors  several  of  the  most  learned  and 
eloquent  ministers  of  Southeast  Missouri.  We 
mention  T.  P.  Green,  W.  F.  Nelson,  J.  H.  Clark, 
S.  Barber,  S.  H.  Ford,  J.  S.  Green,  A.  Sher- 
wood, J.  C.  Maple,  G.  F.  Brayton,  J.  S.  Jordan 
and  Joshua  Hickman. 

Gravel  Hill  Church  was  organized  in  1879,  and 
was,  at  one  time,  one  of  the  strongest  churches, 
numerically,  of  the  Cape  Girardeau  Association. 

Union  Church  w\as  organized  in  May,  1832, 
with  eighteen  members,  and  in  the  same  year  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Association. 

Pleasant  Hill  Church,  located  in  Scott  county, 
was  organized  in  1828. 

Pleasant  Grove  Church,  in  Perry  county,  was 
organized  in  1839. 

Mount  Moriah  Church,  in  Scott  county,  was 
organized  in  1830;  Hubble  Creek  Church,  in 
18  W. 


72  THE   BAPTISTS    OF 

Apple  Creek  Church,  one  of  the  oldest  churches, 
was  organized  in  1820  ;  and  was  an  arm  of  the  old 
Bethel  Church. 

Ebenezer  Church,  in  the  big  bend  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi River,  Cape  Girardeau  county,  was  or- 
ganized in  1821. 

Goshen  Church,  Oak  Ridge,  Cape  Girardeau 
county,  was  organized  in  1841  by  Peter  Williams, 
its  first  pastor.  It  is  at  this  time  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  prosperous  churches  of  the  Cape 
Association,  having  Eld.  W.  H.  Welker  as  pas- 
tor, under  whose  labors  it  has  enjoyed  quite  an 
inojathering  durino^  1884  and  1885. 

Hebron  Church  is  a  daughter  of  the  Bethel 
Church,  and  was  organized  in  1822,  a  few  miles 
Northwest  of  Cape  Girardeau.  Brethren  Thomas 
P.  Green  and  Thomas  Inden  were  the  organizers. 
Thus  bavins:  mentioned  the  leadinoj  churches  of 
the  Cape  Girardeau  Association,  we  will  proceed 
to  sketch  briefly  the  lives  of  a  few  of  the  leading 
ministers  now  carrying  on  the  cause  in  this  old, 
but  influential  body. 

ELDER  JOSHUA  HICKMAN. 

Eld.  Joshua  Hickman,  now  Missionary  of 
Southeast  Missouri,  under  appointment  of  the 
Board  of  the  General  Association,  has,  for  several 
years,  been  identified  with  the  work  of  the  Cape 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  73 

Girardeau  Association.  Tliis  faithful  man  of 
God  was  born  in  Mason  county,  Kentucky, 
March  16,  1826.  At  the  early  age  of  twelve 
years,  he  was  converted  to  Christ.  Two  years 
after,  he  was  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  the 
church  at  May's  Lick  (where  he  was  raised),  by 
A.  D.  Sears,  D.  D.,  of  Louisville,  Ky.  In 
March,  1850,  the  church  licensed  him  to  preach, 
and  in  September,  the  same  year,  he  entered  the 
Western  Theological  Institute  at  Covington, 
Ky.,  of  which  Dr.  S.  W.  Lind  was  President.  He 
continued  there  until  November,  1851,  when  he 
came  to  Missouri,  and  spent  the  winter  of  1851-2 
in  St.  Joseph,  preaching  for  the  First  Church  of 
that  city.  At  the  call  of  this  church,  he  was  or- 
dained to  the  ministry  in  March,  1852,  by  Elders 
W.  H.  Thomas  and  Jonas  D.  Wilson.  In  the 
following  month  he  moved  to  St.  Louis  and  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Martha  Crider  on  the  25th  of 
December,  1852.  Five  children  were  born  to 
them,  after  which  Mrs.  Hickman  died.  He  was 
married  again,  in  January,  1862,  to  Mrs.  Isabella 
Crouse,  of  St.  Louis  county.  Bro.  Hickman 
continued  his  ministry  to  St.  Louis  and  vicinity 
for  more  than  twenty-seven  years,  preaching  for 
different  churches.  He  was  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary of  the  General  Association  for  three  years. 


74  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

and  General  Agent  for  the  "Central  Baptist"  for 
one  year.  He  then  came  to  Cape  Girardeau  and 
accepted  the  care  of  the  First  Baptist  Church, 
since  which  time  he  has  served  as  pastor  of 
several  of  the  most  influential  churches  of  the 
Cape  Girardeau  Association,  for  which  reason  we 
give  him  mention  in  this  chapter,  Bro.  Hickman 
is  a  judicious  and  faithful  missionary  worker. 

ELDER  T.  A.  BOWMAN. 

In  connection  with  the  Cape  Girardeau  Asso- 
ciation and  much  of  the  mission  work  of  South- 
east Missouri,  we  mention  Elder  T.  A.  Bowman, 
now  pastor  at  Pacific,  Mo.  Bro.  Bowman  is  a 
native  of  Virginia.  When  quite  young  he  was 
converted  to  Christ  and  was  baptized  by  Elder 
James  Keid  into  the  fellowship  of  Goshen 
Church.  Soon  after  this  he  felt  it  his  duty  to 
try  to  preach  the  Gospel,  and  feelinoj  the  neces- 
sity of  a  better  education  for  so  great  a  w^ork,  he 
at  once  started  to  school  and  spent  about  two 
years  in  William  Jewell  College,  when  we  find 
him  in  1878  numbered  among  the  ministers  of 
the  Cape  Girardeau  Association.  Shortly  after, 
the  Board  of  the  General  Association  called  upon 
him  to  take  the  general  work  as  District  Mission- 
ary of  Southeast  Missouri.  In  this  work  he  con- 
tinued for  several  years,  when  he  moved  to  Salem, 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  75 

Dent  county,  becoming  pastor  of  the  church 
there;  from  thence  to  Pacific.  He  was  quite 
energetic  in  his  work,  re-establishing  old  churches 
and  building  new  ones  in  various  towns  and  com- 
munities in  Southeast  Missouri. 

ELDER  W.  H.  WELKER. 

Elder  W.  H.  Welker  is  a  native  of  Cape  Girar- 
deau county.  Soon  after  he  united  with  the 
Baptist  Church,  he  commenced  preaching  and 
was  ordained  by  order  of  the  church.  He  has 
been  a  very  earnest  and  consecrated  minister, 
having  served  as  pastor  and  as  missionary  in  the 
bounds  of  the  Cape  Girardeau  and  St.  Francois 
Associations.  He  is  now  located  at  Oak  Ridge, 
Cape  Girardeau  county,  as  pastor  of  the  Oak 
Ridge  Church,  at  this  time  among  the  largest  and 
most  flourishing  churches  of  the  Cape  Girardeau 
Association.  Bro.  Welker  never  had  the  oppor- 
tunity to  obtain  a  classical  education;  but  by 
faithful  study  has  made  himself  an  eloquent  and 
pleasant  speaker. 

JOHN  GODWIN. 

Our  young  brother,  John  Godwin,  is  worthy 
of  mention  as  being  one  of  the  most  affectionate, 
kind-hearted  ministers  of  the  Cape  Girardeau 
Association,  and,  although  like  many  others  of 
Southeast  Missouri,  he  had  not  the  benefits  of  a 


7C  THE   BAPTISTS    OF 

finished  education,  yet,  by  diligence,  he  has  made 
himself  a  useful  and  acceptable  pastor,  and  is 
held  in  high  esteem  in  all  the  churches  and  com- 
munities where  he  labors. 

REV.  JOHX  T.  FORD. 

Rev.  John  T.  Ford,  deceased,  is  worthy  of 
mention,  for  though  "being  dead,  he  yet  speak- 
eth."  He  was  born  in  Western  Virginia,  but 
came  in  his  early  life  to  Missouri  and  united  with 
the  Baptist  Church  ;  when  he  soon  gave  evidence 
of  a  call  to  the  ministry.  Through  the  influence 
of  Eev.  elames  Reid,  he  entered  upon  the  good 
work,  and  though  not  an  educated  man,  like 
others  already  mentioned,  he  became  a  faithful 
and  successful  preacher.  Under  his  charge  many 
were  added  to  the  church,  among  whom  was  Rev. 
W.  McDonough,  now  in  the  ministr}^  Bro.  Ford 
died  at  his  home  in  Cape  Girardeau  count}',  Nov. 
27th,  1883,  after  long  and  protracted  suffering, 
which  he  endured  with  patient  meekness. 

His  brother.  Books  Ford,  is  now  in  the  minis- 
try and  is  a  man  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit;  but 
of  him  and  other  deserving  young  ministers  of  the 
Cape  Girardeau  Association,  we  have  not  the 
necessary  information  to  give  details. 

Thus  we  conclude  the  chapter  on  the  Cape 
Girardeau  Association,  organized  in  1824.    It  has 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  77 

stood  the  perils  of  sixty-two  years,  evincing  all 
the  time  the  true  progressive  missionary  spirit. 
Its  influence  has  been  greatly  felt  throughout  the 
field  it  has  occupied  in  the  eastern  part  of  South- 
east Missouri.  It  has  stayed  the  cause  against 
Parkerism,  which  was  Anti-nomianism  and  Anti- 
missionism  combined;  and  has  sustained,  from 
time  to  time,  a  strong  and  influential  ministry, 
many  of  whom  have  gone  forth  to  other  fields. 
It  has  furnished  churches  for  the  organization  of 
two  other  Associations — the  Black  River  and 
Charleston  Associations  beinof  its  daughters. 

Notwithstanding  the  diminution  of  its  churches 
in  order  to  form  the  Charleston  Association  some 
two  years  ago,  it  yet  reports  at  its  last  session, 
in  1885,  eleven  churches,  four  ordained  minis- 
ters, a  total  membership  of  424,  while  ninety 
baptisms  were  reported  this  year.  It  has  always 
been  a  faithful  friend  to  Christian  education. 
Many  of  its  members  were  liberal  donors  to  the 
Mayfield-Smith  Academy,  located  at  Marble 
Hill,  Bollinger  county.  This  Association  is  a 
friend  to  Sabbath-schools  and  an  opponent  of  in- 
temperance, as  the  various  resolutions  passed  at 
several  of  its  annual  meetings  speak  out  against 
this  gigantic  evil.  Rev.  J.  C.  Hembree,  of 
Marble  Hill,  Mo.,   is  its  efficient   missionary  at 


78  THE     BAPTISTS   OF 

this  time,  1888,  at  a  salary  of  $50  per  month. 
He  has  been  quite  successful  in  his  labors  among 
the  churches  in  this  Association. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI,  79 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE   FRANKLIN    ASSOCIATION. 

The  third  Association  in  Southeast  Missouri 
was  the  Franklin,  a  daughter  of  the  old  Missouri 
Association,  known  as  the  Missouri  District 
Association — called  Friends  to  Humanity,  the 
same  in  doctrinal  views,  but  differing  on  the  sub- 
ject of  slavery  from  the  Franklin  community. 
The  Franklin  Association  was  organized  at  the 
house  of  J.  C.  Duckworth,  in  the  year  of  1832, 
Eld.  James  Williams  acting  as  Moderator.  The 
Association  is  situated  in  the  counties  of  Franklin, 
Washington,  and  portions  of  Jefferson,  St.  Fran- 
cois, Gasconade  and  Crawford.  This  was  a  large 
district  of  about  one  hundred  miles  square.  The 
first  meeting  of  this  Association  was  held  at 
Merrimac  Church,  September  14-17,  1832.  It 
then  numbered  ten  churches,  with  ten  ministers, 
eighty-two  baptisms,  and  a  total  membership  of 
374.  (See  Allen's  Register,  Vol.  I,  1833.)  The 
second  meeting  convened  at  Potosi,  Washington 
county,  Missouri,  September,  1833.  This  year 
thirteen  churches  were  represented,  with  a  mem- 


80  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

bership  of  544.  Among  the  venerable  pioneers 
at  this  meeting  was  John  Hatchings,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Convention  in  1820  that  formed 
the  Constitution  of  Missouri.  He  died  a  few 
years  ago,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-four 
years. 

At  the  tmie  of  the  formation  of  the  Franklin 
Association  there  was  a  strong  Anti-mission  sen- 
timent, as  many  of  the  old  brethren  of  Southeast 
Missouri  well  remember;  but  the  Franklin  was 
decidedly  a  missionary  body,  as  is  shown  in  the 
second  article  of  their  Constitution,  which  article 
is  here  given  : 

** Churches  may  be  received  into  this  body  by 
application,  provided  they  are  sound  in  the  faith 
and  orderly  in  practice,  and  will  not  oppose  those 
who  wish  to  be  eno^ao^ed  in  the  benevolent  enter- 
pirses  of  the  day,  leaving  every  member  to  exer- 
cise his  own  free  will  relative  to  those  institu- 
tions." Doubtless,  this  was  because  of  the  difficul- 
ties older  Associations  had  suffered  from  the 
Anti-mission  influence  among  them.  It  is  but 
proper  to  mention  here,  that  it  was  within  the 
bounds  of  this  Association  that  Brothers  Wil- 
liams, Colwell,  Carpenter,  Stevens,  Frost,  Brown, 
AVhitmore  and  others  consecrated  their  first  la- 
bors to  build  up  the  Missionary  Baptist  cause. 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  81 

Most  of  these  brethren  have  been  called  home  to 
their  reward  ;  but  though  they  are  gone,  they  yet 
speak  through  their  labors  performed  in  those 
early  times  in  ])uilding  up  the  kingdom  of  God. 
In  1837,  the  Association  recommended  the  for- 
mation of  Bible  classes  in  the  churches,  and 
raised  her  voice  against  the  sin  of  intemperance, 
by  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  That  this  Association  recommend  to 
the  churches  of  this  body  to  form  a  Temperance 
Society  in  connection  with  the  church. 

THE   PROGRESS   OF   THE   ASSOCIATION. 

The  session  of  1838  was  held  with  the  Fourche 
a  Renault  Church.  During  the  early  part  of  this 
year  one  of  the  faithful  pioneers  had  died — Rev. 
Robert  Carpenter — who  had  been  appointed  the 
preceding  year  to  write  the  Circular  Letter.  The 
great  controversy  with  the  American  Bible 
Society  had  just  terminated  in  the  formation  of 
the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  We 
here  give  the  following  resolution  adopted  by 
this  body,  which  set  forth  the  high  position  held 
by  these  brethren  of  the  wilderness  upon  this 
subject : 

Whereas,  The  American  Baptist  Denomina- 
tion of  these  United  States  has  been  compelled  to 
form  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in 


82  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

order  to  sustain  their  roissionaries  in  publishing 
faithful  transhitions  of  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  the 
American  Bible  Society,  through  which  our  de- 
nomination has  been  accustomed  to  aid  our 
Foreign  missionaries  in  the  publication  of  the 
Word  of  Truth,  having  declined  any  aid  in  the 
future  to  Foreign  translations,  unless,  instead  of 
their  being  faithfully  translated  from  inspired 
originals,  they  are  so  far  conformed  to  the 
English  Version  that  all  denominations  can  con- 
sistently use  them  in  their  schools  and  communi- 
ties ;  thereby  cutting  off  all  translations  made  by 
Baptist  missionaries,  who  have  translated  the 
Greek  word  baptizo  as  they  conscientiously  be- 
lieve it  ought  to  be  translated  by  a  word  equiv- 
alent to  immersion;  therefore. 

Resolved^  That  the  translation  and  distribution 
of  the  Word  of  God  among  the  heathen  is  an  ob- 
ject of  the  first  importance  in  Christian  effort ; 

Resolved,  That  sincerely,  and  in  the  fear  of 
God,  we  approve  the  course  pursued  by  our  de- 
nomination in  forming  a  separate  Bible  Society 
to  circulate  among  the  heathen  the  most  faithful 
versions  that  can  be  produced,  and  recommend  to 
the  churches  and  friends  of  our  denomination  to 
aid  by  their  prayers  and  contributions  in  this 
good  work. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  83 

This  was,  decidedly,  a  God-honoring  expres- 
sion of  this  Baptist  body  in  those  early  times. 
In  1839  the  Association  numbered  twenty-six 
churches.  Thus  was  she  moving  onward  in  the 
establishment  of  Christian  enterprises. 

In  1846  we  find  the  following  resolution  con- 
cerninoj  "feet-washinoj"  : 

Resolved,  That  we  view  the  saint's  washing  of 
feet  as  a  Gospel  ordinance,  and  do  recommend 
the  practice  of  the  same  among  our  churches. 

In  1854  the  Franklin  Association  oriofinated 
the  Southern  Missouri  Baptist  Convention  as  a 
missionary  organization.  The  cause  for  this 
movement  was  found  in  the  fact  that  the  General 
Association  of  the  State  held  its  meetings  at  too 
great  a  distance  for  the  churches  of  Southeast 
Missouri  to  reach  them,  and,  therefore,  they 
could  not  profit  by  its  benevolent  influences. 
The  Convention,  however,  regarded  itself  as  a 
co-worker  with  the  General  Association  ;  but  the 
history  of  this  Convention  was  a  brief  one. 

In  1856  there  was  enjoyed  a  gracious  revival 
of  religion  throughout  the  bounds  of  this  Asso- 
ciation. Old  churches  were  revived  ;  new  ones 
sprang  up,  and  missionary  enterprises  were  en- 
larged, and  such  was  the  general  growth  that 
in   about   five  years   the   body   numbered   more 


84  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

than  twelve  hundred   members  in   its    churches. 

Mention  will  now  be  made  of  the  origin  of 
some  of  the  leading  churches  in  connection  with 
sketches  of  some  of  the  pastors. 

Black  River  Church  is  located  on  the  middle 
fork  of  Black  Eiver,  Reynolds  county.  It  was 
organized  in  October,  1833,  with  twenty  mem- 
bers. It  has  always  been,  and  is  now,  a  strong 
church  with  over  one  hundred  members.  In 
1859  the  author  was  a  messenger  to  the  Franklin 
Association  from  the  St.  Francois  Church,  near 
Farmington.  It  was  held  that  year  with  the 
Black  River  Church.  It  was  his  first  acquaint- 
ance with  this  body  and  its  ministers.  Elder 
John  Rudy  was  missionary  that  year,  and  Elder 
Hiram  Smith,  Moderator.  The  Association  was 
then  a  strong,  influential  body. 

Liberty  Church  was  organized  in  Washington 
county,  June,  1816,  and  was  then  called  Bellview, 
after  the  name  of  the  valley  in  which  it  was 
situated.  At  its  organization  it  was  anti-mission- 
ary. Elder  Felix  Reading  was  its  first  pastor. 
He  was  succeeded  in  1829  by  Elder  James  B. 
Smith,  at  which  time  the  church  was  disbanded 
and  re-organized,  when  it  took  its  present  name. 
It  has  been  a  strong  church  and  has  sent  forth 
several  able  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  85 

Cotar*s  Church  is  an  old  pioneer  body,  located 
on  Cotar's  Creek,  in  Crawford  county,  and  was 
organized  in  May,  1829,  with  ten  members. 
Elder  Joseph  King  was  its  first  pastor. 

Bethel  Church  is  located  in  Crawford  county, 
eight  miles  south  of  Steelville.  It  was  organized 
in  September,  1841,  by  Elders  C.  S.  D.  Caldwell 
and  B.  Frost.  It  was  a  small  but  influential 
body. 

Old  Mine's  Church  was  organized  in  1834,  by 
Elder  James  Williams,  and  is  located  in  Wash- 
ington county. 

Union  Church  is  probably  the  oldest  church  in 
the  Association,  having  been  organized  in  1832, 
by  Elders  James  Williams,  T.  P.  Green  and 
James  Cundiff .  It  is  located  a  few  miles  north 
of  Farmington,  in  St.  Francois  county.  Elder 
Cundiff  w^as  its  first  pastor.  After  a  history  of 
fiftj^-four  years,  it  remains  a  strong  influential 
body.  This  was  the  home  of  two  of  the  most  in- 
fluential lay-members  of  the  Franklin  Associa- 
tion, i.  e.,  the  lamented  Charles  Burkes  and  the 
beloved  Alexander  Jennings,  deacon. 

The  St.  Francois  Church  w^as  organized  at  the 
old  Pendleton  Church-house,  six  miles  southwest 
of  Farmington,  St.  Francois  county.  Its  con- 
stituent members    were    from  a  community  of 


SC)  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

North  Carolinians,  principjilly  the  Taylor  family, 
who  first  settled  near  where  Loughboro  now 
stands,  in  about  the  year  1851.  In  1854  this 
church  was  organized  by  Elder  Gentry,  ^vho  was 
its  first  pastor.  For  a  time  the  author  was  a 
member  of  this  church,  and  it  was  here  that  we 
first  heard  the  sweet  melodies  of  cultivated  note- 
sinuinsr.  Of  all  the  churches  we  ever  knew  which 
taught  their  members  the  science  and  beauty  of 
singing  by  note,  this  one  was  the  most  exemplary. 
When  Elder  Wm.  Settle  w^as  pastor,  he  said,  as 
he  was  nearinoj  the  church  on  one  occasion  while 
they  were  singing,  ''That  music  so  sweet  and 
beautiful  makes  me  think  myself  away  to  the 
rest  of  endless  dav."  Amonsr  those  who  led  in 
this  beautiful  service,  it  is  but  proper  that  w'e 
mention  the  lamented  Elisha  Hunt,  who  went  to 
the  "war  and  never  returned  ;  the  musical  John 
Williams  and  J.  Taylor,  assisted  by  the  melodi- 
ous voices  of  Sisters  Hunt  and  Mar}'  Cloud  and 
many  others  who  are  worthy  of  mention,  did  not 
space  forbid. 

Farmington  Baptist  Church  w^as  organized 
quite  recently,  at  Farmington,  an  old  historic 
town  in  Baptist  history.  It  is  a  small  but  prom- 
ising church  with  Elder  J.  G.  Hardy  as  pastor. 
It   was  in   Farmington   that    the    first    Baptist 


Southeast  MissouRt.  87 

families,  the  Murphys,  settled  in  1804,  who  es- 
tablished the  first  Sabbath-school  west  of  the 
great  river. 

Bismarck  Church  is  located  at  Bismarck,  an 
important  railroad  town  in  St.  Francois  county. 
The  church  was  organized  a  few  years  airo  by 
Elder  T.  A.  Bowman,  who  was  then  District 
Missionary  for  Southeast  Missouri,  under  appoint- 
ment of  the  Board  of  the  General  Association. 
Prof.  J.  S.  Gashwiler  is  pastor  of  this  important 
place.  He  has  also  a  fine  select  school  at  Farm- 
ington,  where  he  resides.  It  is  a  Baptist  school 
worthy  of  a  large  patronage. 

JAMES   WILLIAMS. 

This  eminent  divine,  though  mentioned  by 
other  writers,  is  worthy  of  mention  in  these 
sketches  ;  especially  in  connection  with  the  Frank- 
lin Association,  in  which  body  he  labored  much. 
James  Williams  was  born  near  Lexington,  Ky., 
October  4, 1789,  being  the  eldest  son  of  the  family. 
His  parents  not  being  wealthy,  he  only  received 
a  common  school  education.  When  quite  young 
he  came  to  Missouri  and  settled  in  St.  Louis° 
shortly  after  which  he  moved  to  New  Madrid 
county.  Here  he  purchased  a  farm,  and  soon 
after  married  Miss  Lydia  Waller.  The  earth- 
quake of  1811   destroyed  his  property   at  New 


88  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 

Madrid,  and  leaving  there  he  settled  near  Cape 
Girardeau  about  the  year  1816.  At  about  the 
same  time  he  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry. After  a  time  spent  here,  he  moved  to 
Madison  county,  where,  on  Sundays,  he  preached 
to  the  people  of  the  surrounding  communities. 
In  1832  he  went  to  Washington  county  and  set- 
tled on  Fourche  a  Renault  Creek,  where  he  soon 
commenced  gathering  churches. 

Elder  Williams  was  in  the  formation  of  the 
Franklin  Association,  and  was  its  first  Modera- 
tor. He  was  a  great  revivalist,  and  a  pleasant  and 
eloquent  preacher,  much  beloved  by  all.  He 
peacefully  Avent  to  his  reward  and  rest  in  April, 
1861,  at  the  ripe  age  of  72  years. 

ELD.    JOSEPH    RUTTER. 

Eld.  Rutter  has,  for  many  years,  been  laboring 
within  the  bounds  of  Franklin  Association.  He 
was,  I  think,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  in  which 
state  he  united  with  the  Baptists,  and  commenced 
to  preach.  A  few  years  afterward  he  came  to 
this  state  and  first  preached  in  the  Cape  Girar- 
deau Association  about  the  year  1854 ;  shortly 
afterward  he  became  identified  with  the  Frank- 
lin, in  which  body  he  has  spent  most  of  his  time 
since,  as  a  traveling  revivalist.  He  is  now  more 
than  70  years  of  age,  having,  during  his  minis- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  89 

try,  baptized  more  than  eighteen   hundred  per- 
sons, and  is  still  traveling  and  preaching. 

ELD.   JOHN  RUDY. 

The  birth-place  of  this  strong  and  influential 
8€lf-made  man  of  God,  we  know  not.  He  was 
brought  up  near  the  town  of  Farmington,  St. 
Francois  county,  Missouri.  He  was  converted 
under  the  ministry  of  the  great  Wni.  Polk,  and 
baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  Colony  Church,  in 
the  year  1853,  or  1854,  and  commenced  to 
preach;  but  in  consequence  of  a  difficulty  in  Col- 
ony Church,  brought  about  by  the  Know-Kothing 
question,  he  was  not  ordained  until  he  had  united 
with  Union  Church,  of  Franklin  Association,  in 
Avhich  body  he  has  been  an  active  missionary  and 
pastor  for  many  years,  with  still  a  promise  of 
usefulness. 

CONCLUSION. 

Many  other  deserving  ministers  of  this  Asso- 
ciation could  be  mentioned  in  these  sketches. 
We  now  conclude  this  chapter  with  a  summary 
review.  It  will  now  be  seen  that  the  Franklin 
Association  has  stood  for  fifty-four  years  amidst 
various  changes,  religious  and  political,  faithful 
to  its  progressive  integrity.  It  has  sent  forth 
several  able  missionaries  into  destitute  fields;  has 
advocated  Bible  and  Sunday-school  work ;  main- 


90  The  baptists  of 

tained  Temperance  Societies  in  its  churches; 
advocated  the  distribution  of  sound  Bible  Litera- 
ture and  establishment  of  whatever  benelicient 
enterprises  would,  in  their  judgment,  bless 
mankind ;  supporting  the  various  missionary  en- 
terprises of  the  Baptist  denomination  at  home 
and  abroad.  From  the  annual  of  the  General 
Association  for  1885  we  o:ather  the  followino: 
statistics:  24  churches,  11  ordained  ministers, 
100  baptisms;  total  membership,  1507.  They 
believe  in  an  educated  ministry,  and,  therefore, 
have  a  fostering  care  for  Christian  Education. 
Thus  it  is  to  be  seen  that  the  principle  and  spirit 
which  actuated  the  fathers  who  first  began  this 
good  work  is  still  living  in  the  hearts  of  the  chil- 
dren. The  next  annual  meeting  of  this  old  and 
venerated  body  is  to  be  with  Union  Church,  St. 
Francois  county,  a  few  miles  north  of  Farming- 
ton,  the  county-seat. 

FARMINGTON  COLLEGE. 

As  mentioned  elsewhere  this  school  is  located 
at  Farmington,  which  is  noted  for  healthfulness 
and  good  society.  It  is  now  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Franklin  and  other  adjoining  Baptist  Associa- 
tions. The  school  entered  upon  its  second  session 
September  5th,  1887,  with  prospects  of  a  success- 
ful future,  destined,  doubtless,  for  eminent  great- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  91 

ness  and  usefulness  to  the  coming  generations  of 
the  community.  It  was  established  September 
10th,  1883,  by  Prof.  J.  S.  Gashwiler,  who  sold  it 
to  the  Franklin  Baptist  Association  as  a  Baptist 
denominational  school.  It  is  now  under  the  able 
supervision  of  Prof.  E.  J.  Jennings,  as  principal, 
who  has  just  closed  a  successful  session. 

PROF.  E.J.  JENNINGS. 

Prof.  E.  J.  Jennings,  son  of  Alexander  Jen- 
nings,long  a  faithful  and  useful  member  of  Liberty 
Church,  St.  Genevieve  county,  Mo.,  was  born 
in  that  county,  February  20th,  1850.  His  father 
being  an  industrious,  economical  farmer,  trained 
his  son  to  useful  and  profitable  labor,  amidst  the 
pleasant  scenery  of  a  good  country  home  and  a 
prosperous  and  happy  family. 

When  quite  young  he  entered  the  common 
schools  of  the  country,  and  was  a  dutiful  and 
studious  boy.  He  attended  Hickory  Grove  Acad- 
emy, (Tennessee)  for  a  term  or  more;  after 
which  he  returned  to  his  native  State  and  entered 
William  Jewell  College,  in  which  school  he  com- 
pleted his  course  of  studies,  and  was  trained  and 
qualified  for  a  useful  professional  life.  In  1876 
he  was  chosen  principal  of  Baskinton  Academy, 
Louisiana,  where  he  remained  for  three  years; 
after  which  he  occupied  a  high  position  in  the 


92  THE   BAPTISTS  OF 


Fletcher  Academy,  of  that  State,  for  four  years. 
He  was  elected  President  of  Farminojton  College  in 
1886.  JTe  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  Barkly ,  of  Clay 
county,  Mo.,  October  21st,  1881. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  ^3 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE    BLACK   RIVER   ASSOCIATION. 

The  fourth  Association  in  Southeast  Missouri 
was  organized  in  Greenville,  county-seat  of 
Wayne  county,  in  November,  1835,  with  six 
churches,  formerly  belonging  to  Cape  Girardeau 
Association,  which  had  been  dismissed  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  the  Black  River  Association, 
viz. :  Black  River,  Cherokee  Bay,  Columbia,  Big 
Creek,  Bear  Creek,  and  Greenville,  with  a  mem- 
bership of  about  180.  This  Association,  like 
nearly  all  the  old  ones  of  Southeast  Missouri, 
was,  at  the  time  of  its  organization,  and  is  yet, 
a  strong  missionary  body.  A  brief  account  of  its 
history  will  be  given  in  these  sketches  in  connec- 
tion with  the  work  and  labor  of  its  leading  min- 
isters. 

The  ministers  connected  with  its  organization 
were  Elders  William  Mason,  S.  Winningham, 
Elder  Henry  McElmurry,  who  was  chosen  Mod- 
erator, and  Sam.  L.  J.  McKnight,  Clerk. 
(Minutes  of  Organization.)     After  a   few  years, 


94  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 

the  ministerial  strength  was  doubled  by  the  com- 
ing into  the  Association  of  Elders  Wm.  Settle, 
B.  Clark,  and  N.  G.  Ferguson.  From  its  or- 
ganization until  1860,  the  meetings  continued 
regularly,  showing  its  progress  by  a  steady  in- 
crease of  churches  and  members.  The  number 
of  its  churches  had  increased  from  1833  to  1859, 
from  six  churches  to  twenty-four,  with  a  total 
membership  of  more  than  one  thousand  commu- 
nicants. 

This  Association  was  located  at  the  time  of  ats 
organization  in  one  of  the  largest,  and,  doubtless, 
one  of  the  most  destitute  fields  in  Southeast  Mis- 
souri— extending  from  the  southern  part  of  Madi- 
son county,  southward  through  Wayne,  Stod- 
dard, Dunklin,  and  westward  into  Butler  county. 
This  district  took  in  a^ greater  part  of  the  swamp 
wilderness,  in  the  bounds  of  which  were  many 
thousand  acres  of  the  most  fertile  land,  which 
was,  at  that  time,  more  valuable  to  the  people  on 
account  of  the  game  found  upon  it  than  for  its 
fertility.  Many  of  the  settlers  were  hunters. 
This  field  is,  consequently,  now  held  sacred  by 
the  remembrance  of  the  toils,  sacrifices,  labors, 
prayers,  tears  and  sermons  of  those  brave  Chris- 
tians who  spent  their  best  days  in  laying  well  the 
foundations  of  Gospel  truth  among  this  people, — 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  95 

which  blessed  truth  has  spread  far  and  wide  into 
ahnost  every  community  in  this  great  field. 

In  1850,  fifteen  years  after  its  oro;anization, 
twelve  churches  were  dismissed  from  its  bounds 
to  form  the  St.  Francois  Association.  These 
churches  were  located  principally  in  the  northern 
boundary  of  this  great  field.  The  old  Associa- 
tional  body  styled  itself  the  Bla('k  River  Associa- 
tion of  United  Missionary  Baptists. 

ITS   PROGRESS. 

After  dismissing  these  twelve  churches,  in  1850, 
to  form  the  St.  Francois  Association,  the  diminu- 
tion of  strength  was  almost  replaced  in  ten  years, 
which  brings  us  to  1860.  In  this  year  the  Black 
Eiver  Association  still  numbered  twenty-two 
churches,  to  which  three  more  new  ones  were 
added,  having  in  all  962  members,  with  fourteen 
ministers  and  125  baptisms  reported. 

The  Minutes  of  1860  give  the  following  inter- 
esting items : 

Resolved y  first.  That  this  Association  will  not 
hold  in  fellowship  any  church  which  will  tolerate 
in  her  members  the'practice  of  selling  intoxicating 
liquors,  to  be  used  as  a  beverage,  or  who  will  en- 
courage in  any  way  the  use  of  intoxicating 
drinks. 

Second,    That   we    do   not  recognize  any    as 


96  THE   BAPTISTS   OF 

having  been  baptized,  who  have  received  the 
ordinance  at  the  hands  of  Pedo-Baptists. 

Third,  That  a  religious  education  is  a  powerful 
aid  to  piety  and  zeal  in  qualifying  young  men  for 
the  Gospel  ministry.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
churches  to  aid  such  brethren  as  give  promise  of 
usefulness  in  the  ministry  and  are  not  able  to 
educate  themselves. 

In  1860  Bro.  L.  L.  Stephens  was  missionary 
and  reported  fifty  days  labor,  forty-three  sermons 
preached,  fifty  families  visited,  and  nine  baptisms ; 
and  received  $50.  During  the  war  period  here, 
a^  elsewhere  in  Southeast  Missouri,  but  little 
progress,  if  any,  could  be  made.  But  in  1867  the 
Minutes  show  that  renewed  energy  was  put  forth, 
as  in  that  year  eight  churches  were  admitted  to 
the  Associational  list.  Two  years  later  great 
prosperity  was  manifested  as  in  this  year,  1869, 
thirty  churches  were  reported  on  the  list,  with 
1,726  members  and  338  baptisms.  Thus,  a  truly 
fine  example  of  religious  i^rogress  was  manifested 
by  this  body  for  a  period  of  thirtj^-four  years. 

ITS  STANDSTILL. 

From  the  period  last  mentioned  to  1881,  a 
space  of  tw^elve  years,  there  seems  to  have  been  a 
general  declension  and  fallinsr  off  in  the  churches 
and  members,  which  seems  to  have  been  in  con 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI. 


97 


sequence  of  unsettled  plans  and  methods  of  work. 
But  since  this  standstill  period,  beginning  in  1881 
to  1882,  prosperity  began  rolling  on  as  before. 
In  1881  seventy  baptisms  were  reported. 

The  ministers  represented  were  David  Lewis, 
J.  F.  Bibb,  W.  H.  Dial,  T.  B.  Turnbaugh,  R.  H. 
Douglas,  T.  Hogan,  W.  G.  Henderson  (licen- 
tiate), M.  V.  Baird,  L.  D.  Cagle  ;  licentiates,  J. 
J.  Wester,  H.  D.  Carlin,  M.  G.  Whitaker,  J.  H. 
D.  Carlin  and  Bro.  Stringer. 

Of  the  organization  and  establishment  of  the 
different  churches  of  this  Association  we  have 
not  the  means  of  knowing;  and  therefore  will  not 
detain  the  reader  with  indefinite  information. 
Neither  have  we  anything  but  meagre  accounts  of 
its  first  ministers  and  their  work  ;  and  of  some  of 
them,  nothing  at  all.  So  far  as  we  can  learn, 
however,  they  were  all  truly  pious,  consecrated 
ministers. 

We  will  mention  Elder  John  W.  Brown,  of  the 
Black  River  Association,  as  having  lived  in  Dunk- 
lin county  in  quite  early  times.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  faithfulness  and  deep  piety.  He  died 
August  13th,  1868,  as  it  is  said,  in  battle. 

Elder  L.  L.  Stephens  w^as  another  of  this  min- 
isterial band  who  had  presided  in  the  councils  of 


98  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

this  old  Association  and  labored  as  missionary. 
He  died  in  the  year  1872. 

Bro.  John  H.  Floyd,  a  native  of  Clark  county, 
Mo.,  was  born  in  1832.  He  came  with  his 
father's  family  some  years  ago  to  Dunklin 
county.  In  1854  he  was  converted  to  Christ  and 
united  with  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in  1858  be- 
gan preaching.  He  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  with  the  exception  of  one  year  in  Texas,  in 
this  tield.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy,  indus- 
try and  faithfulness  ;  cultivating  a  farm  for  a 
living,  while  he  usually  preached  to  three  or  four 
churches  statedly.  He  would  sometimes  spend 
two  or  three  months  holding  protracted  meetings 
every  year.  Sometimes  he  would  continue  until 
hardly  able  to  talk.  Eternity  alone  will  reveal 
the  toils  and  sacrifices  of  such  men.  He  died 
June  8th,  1874,  being  then  in  his  forty-third 
year. 

Right  here,  where  information  concerning  other 
deserving  brethren  of  this,  as  well  as  other  Asso- 
ciations, is  wanting,  the  author  wishes  to  give  a 
thought  to  all  Baptist  brethren  who  may  chance 
to  read  these  sketches,  and  that  is  : 

That  we  ought  to  have  short  biographies  of 
each  and  every  minister  of  note,  containing  the 
time  and  place  of  birth,  where  educated,  when 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  99 

converted  and  baptized,  where  ordained,  etc.,  etc. 
Such  sketches  should  be  obtained  while  they  are 
living,  either  by  the  churches  for  which  they 
served  as  pastors,  or  by  the  Associations  in  which 
they  lived ;  and  these  documents  should  be  pre- 
served for  future  history.  We  know  nc.t  what 
time  may  reveal  in  the  lives  of  ministers;  we  all 
love  to  look  back,  through  the  pages  of  history, 
upon  the  commendable  labors  and  sacrifices  of 
those  who  have  fallen  upon  the  field,  battling  for 
the  truth.  Let  none  forget  that  the  future  may 
be  made  all-inspiring  by  the  present. 

The  Black  River  Association  is  now  a  strono* 
aggressive  and  progressive  body,  having  an  able 
and  efficient  band  of  ministers  true  to  the  faith 
and  to  every  good  work.  The  session  of  1886, 
held  with  the  Philadelphia  Church,  five  miles 
north  of  Bloomfield,  county-seat  of  Stoddard 
county,  was  a  harmonious  and  profitable  session. 
Elder  R.  H.  Douglas  Avas  Moderator,  and  Judge 
R.  P.  Owens,  Clerk.  As  the  Association  was 
very  large,  it  was  divided  into  two  districts  in  or- 
der to  do  a  more  effective  work  ;  in  each  of  which 
a  Mission  Board  was  appointed  and  $200  pledo-ed 
for  the  w^ork. 


100  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 


CHAPTER  V. 


ST.    FRAXCOIS    ASSOCIATION. 

The  fifth  Association  organized  in  Southeast 
Missouri  was  styled  the  St.  Francois  Association 
of  United  Bapti^^ts  Devoted  to  Benevolent  Pur- 
poses. It  was  organized  October  14th,  1850,  at 
Castor  Church,  now  near  Marquand,  an  important 
railroad  town  in  Madison  count}^  out  of  a  colony 
of  twelve  churches  which  had  been  dismissed 
from  the  Black  River  Association  for  that  pur- 
pose. From  the  name  which  it  bears,  we  sec  at 
once  that  it  starts  out  with  the  combined  idea  of 
a  missionary  body,  being  ** devoted  to  benevolent 
purposes,"  which  was  the  first  characteristic  of 
all  the  former  bodies  of  the  kind  hitherto  organ- 
ized in  this  part  of  the  state.  While  it  has  ever 
been  a  fixed  purpose  of  all  the  Associations  of 
Baptists  in  Southeast  Missouri,  as  well  as  else- 
where, to  maintain  a  general  union  and  com- 
munion of  all  the  churches  of  each  Association, 
upon  principles  of  sound  doctrine  and  orthodox 
practice,  it  has  also  been  the  custom  to  maintain 
and  spread  the  Gospel  in  their  midst  as  well  as 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  lOl 

elsewhere.  Such,  therefore,  was  the  object  of 
this  Association,  and  should  be  the  object  of 
every  such  organization. 

The  constituent  churches  of  this  body  were 
Mt.  Pleasant,  Sinking  Creek,  Webb's  Creek, 
Grassy  Creek,  Pleasant  Grove,  Little  Vine,  New 
Hope,  Perkins'  Creek,  Little  Flock,  Big  Creek, 
Cedar  Creek  and  Castor,  having  a  membership  of 
534  members. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting,  which  was  held  in 
September,  1851,  with  Little  Vine  Church,  Madi- 
son county,  Dr.  R.  P.  Paramore  was  chosen 
Moderator,  Eld.  Pinckney  Graham,  Clerk,  and 
EkLWm.  W.  Settle,  Assistant  Clerk.  Accord- 
ing to  the  Minutes  of  that  year,  the  following 
ministers  were  present :  Elds.  C.  T.  Graham, 
Wm.  W.  Settle,  J.  Duncan,  I  B.  Wallace,  A. 
Hughes,  R.  S.  Eaton  and  S.  M.  Ranhoff. 

THE    PROGRESS    OF    THE    ASSOCIATIOX. 

The  object  of  these  sketches  is  to  show  the  pro- 
gressive missionary  spirit  and  work  of  this  as  w^ell 
as  the  other  Associations  to  which  we  have  already 
alluded.  We  now  proceed  to  give  the  missionary 
progress  of  this  body,  the  organization  and  work 
of  the  leading  churches,  with  biographical  sketch- 
es of  the  leading  ministers  and  members,  from 
1851  to  188G — a  period  of  thirty-six  years. 


102  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

We  find  from  the  Minutes,  that  from  1851  to 
1860  there  was  a  steady  increase  in  the  member- 
ship of  the  churches,  as  well  as  new  churches 
added  to  the  Association.  In  this  short  time  the 
Association  had  increased  to  twenty  churches, 
with  the  addition  of  nine  pastors  to  its  ministerial 
strength. 

Tiiis  Association  organized  what  was  called  the 
Southeast  Missouri  Baptist  Convention,  which 
was  intended  to  increase  the  strength  and  means 
for  a  more  active  spread  of  the  Gosj^el.  The 
most  important  meeting  of  thi?i  body  was  held 
with  the  Mt.  Tabor  Church  in  the  year  of  1859. 
A  2:rand  revival  meetins:  was  the  result  of  this 
missionary  convention,  and  thirteen  were  added 
to  the  Mt.  Tabor  Church.  However,  this  was 
only  one  of  the  many  grand  revivals  enjoj-ed  in 
many  of  the  churches  of  this  Association  from 
that  time  until  the  war ;  when  there  was  a  cessa- 
tion in  the  meetings  of  the  Association  for  two 
years.  In  1863  the  Association  convened  at 
Big  Creek  Church,  Madison  county  ;  ten  churches 
only  reporting  at  this  meeting,  with  twenty-two 
baptisms. 

THE    GREAT    REVIVAL    PERIOD. 

After  the  strife  and  confusion  of  the  war  had 
abated,   the    ministers  of  this   Association  com- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  103 

ttienced  preaching  with  what  seemed  to  be  a 
double  portion  of  zeal  and  spiritual  power ;  the 
result  of  which  was  tliat  a  good  revival  interest 
spread  all  over  the  entire  field.  Hundreds  were 
converted  and  added  to  the  churches;  new- 
churches  sprang  up  in  great  numbers  all  over 
Southeast  Missouri,  so  that  in  a  few  years  the 
Association  numbered  thirty-seven  churches,  hav- 
ing a  membership  of  fourteen  hundred  communi- 
cants and  a  corps  of  sixteen  or  seventeen  ordained 
ministers  and  several  licentiates. 

The  Association  now  extended  over  a  very  large 
field  which  included  all  the  southern  portion  of 
Madison,  all  of  Wayne,  and  a  greater  portion  of 
Bollinger  counties.  It,  therefore,  became  neces- 
sary to  divide  the  Association  for  the  convenience 
of  the  representatives  of  the  various  churches. 
Accordingly,  in  the  year  187G,  twelve  churches 
were  dismissed  to  form  the  Wayne  County  As- 
sociation. This  left  the  St.  Francois  with 
twenty-five  churches — principally  in  Madison 
and  Bollinger  counties — with  nine  or  ten  or- 
dained ministers  and  four  licentiates.  In  1877 
the  session  was  held  with  Castor  Church,  near 
Marquand,  Madison  county,  on  the  first  day 
of  September.  Eld.  Joseph  Creacy,  who  had 
served  as  missionary  that  year,  reported,  at  this 


104  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

session,  tliat  he  had  organized  one  church, 
strengthened  several  old  ones,  and  baptized  some 
sixty  converts.  At  this  meeting  an  Executive 
Committee  was  appointed  to  raise  funds  and  su- 
perintend the  mission  work  for  the  ensuing  year. 
Dr.  W.  H.  May  field  was  chosen  as  General 
Agent,  and  the  author  was  employed  as  Mission- 
ary. In  1878  the  session  was  held  with  the  Big- 
Creek  Church,  Madison  count \\  The  Associa- 
tion was  much  gratified  with  the  report  of  the 
Board.  The  General  Agent  had  done  his  work 
well,  haying  secured  means  to  pay  the  missionary 
and  procured  subscriptions,  and  money  besides, 
amounting  to  more  than  $1100.00  for  the  purpose 
of  establishing  a  Baptist  Institution  of  learning 
at  the  town  of  Smithville,  Bollinger  county,  Mis- 
souri. The  work  of  the  missionary  above  named 
had  been  a  success.  He  had  given  to  the  work 
sixty  days  at  $1.00  per  day;  eighty  con- 
verts had  been  baptized,  and  three  ne\y 
churches  organized ;  besides,  he  had  aided  in 
procuring  means  for  the  establishment  of  the  In- 
stitution before  mentioned.  The  churches  organ- 
ized were  Little  Whitewater,  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Smithville,  and  Bethel  Church,  all  in  Bollin- 
ger county.  The  Smithville  Church  became  ex- 
tinct in  consequence  of  removing  the  Institution 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  105 

of  Learning,  then  to  be  established  at  Smith ville, 
to  Marble  Hill.  Mention  of  this  Institution  will 
be  made  hereafter. 

The  churches  represented  at  the  Association 
this  year  were:  Big  Creek,  Antioch,  Castor, 
Cane  Creek,  Cedar  Creek,  Ebenezer,  Flatwoods, 
First  Church  of  Fredericktown,  Marble  Hill, 
First  Church  of  Smithville,  Hickory  Grove,  Lit- 
tle Whitewater,  Mt.  Carmel,  Mt.  Pisgah,  Mt. 
Zion,  New  Prospect,  New  Salem,  Shady  Grove, 
Sylvan,  Trace  Creek,  Twelve  Mile,  and  White- 
water. 

The  ministers  present  were :  Elders  F.  M. 
Holbrook,  V.  T.  Settle,  J.  C.  Hembree,  M.  Rob- 
bins,  B.  L.  Bowman,  L.  W.  Revelle,  A.  Twidwell 
and  H.  F.  Tong. 

It  was  at  this  session  that  the  grand  movement 
was  made  to  accept  the  proposition  (of  $1100.00 
submitted  in  the  report  of  Dr.  Mayfield,)  in  be- 
half of  the  citizens  of  Smithville,  to  establish  a 
Baptist  Institution  of  learning  at  that  place,  to 
be  under  the  patronage  and  supervision  of  the  St. 
Francois  Baptist  Association.  This  was  a  grand 
step  forward,  which  will  be  considered  in  a  fu- 
ture chapter,  in  behalf  of  the  Institution,  pre- 
senting to  the  reader  the  enterprising  spirit  of 
this  faithful  and  progressive  body. 


10(5  THE   BAPTISTS   OF 

The  progress  of  the  Association  is  now  to  be 
seen  clearly  as  she  marches  forward,  with  mis- 
sionaries on  the  field  and  the  appropriation  of 
means  for  the  establishment  of  Christian  educa- 
tion and  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  among  the 
destitute  at  home  as  well  as  in  foreign  lands. 

Beginning  in  1877,  the  work  of  the  Associa- 
tion was,  comparatively,  in  the  hands  of  a  new 
body  of  ministers.  Nearly  all  of  her  old  min- 
isters were  now  gone  home  to  receive  the  reward 
of  the  faithful,  after  years  of  toil  and  suffering 
under  the  most  adverse  circumstances.  Through 
all,  they  labored  to  establish  this  and  other  Asso- 
ciations ;  for  this  service  they  should  ever  be  held 
in  sacred  memor}^  In  all  honor  we  name  the 
following  beloved  brethren :  Elders  Carter  T. 
Graham,  L.  D.  Bennett,  T.  Langley,  A.  Hughes, 
Joseph  Crowley,  Samuel  Farrar,  Wm.  W.  Settle, 
Pinckney  Graham  and  Joseph  Creasy.  Their 
memories  will  ever  be  sweet  to  those  who  enjoyed 
the  fruits  of  their  labors. 

We  will  now  proceed  to  give  some  sketches  of 
the  leading  churches  and  ministers  above  men- 
tioned : 

The  oldest  church  in  this  Association  is  Big 
Creek.  It  was  organized  in  May,  1835,  at  the 
house  of  Elder  Carter  Graham,  near  Big  Creek, 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  107 

Madison  county.  Elder  Henry  McElnmrry  was 
its  first  pastor.  He  continued  with  the  church 
four  years,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Elder  Car- 
ter T.  Graham,  who  remained  twenty  years. 
Since  his  death  Elder  Wm.  London  has  been  its 
pastor  most  of  the  time  up  to  1885. 

The  writer's  first,  acquaintance  with  the  St. 
Francois  Association  was  at  the  session  held  with 
Castor  church  in  the  year  18G8.  To  us  it  was  a 
goodly  acquaintance,  which  we  will  never  forget. 
We  were  afflicted  and  worried  and  a  stranger,  and 
no  pains  were  spared  by  the  brethren  and  sisters 
of  this  church  to  give  us  comfort. 

The  Castor  Church  w^as  organized  in  the  year 
1845,  in  the  Whitner  settlement  on  Castor  River, 
now  Marquand,  Madison  county,  at  the  house  of 
the  venerable  Henry  Whitner,  by  Elders  Graham, 
Settle  and  Eaton.  It  is  now  forty-one  years  since 
it  was  organized,  but  it  is  jet  standing,  an  appro- 
priate beacon  to  those  wdio  are  out  of  Christ.  Of 
the  ministers  who  served  as  pastor  prior  to  1878, 
doubtless,  none  were  more  faithful  or  worthy 
than  Elders  Carter  Graham,  Pinckney  Graham 
and  Wm.  W.  Settle,  who  was  pastor  in  1870,  in 
October  of  which  year  he  died.  After  his  death, 
in  consequence  of  the  then  feeble  health  of  Elder 
Pinckney  Graham,  the  only  survivor  of  the  three, 


108  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

the  writer  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  where  he 
had  the  honor  of  continuing  most  of  the  time  for 
seventeen  years.  Truly  can  it  be  said  that  this 
church  has  been  a  fruitful  vine. 

Marble  Hill  Church  when  first  organized  was 
called  Crooked  Creek,  then  Dallas,  the  name  of  the 
town  in  which  it  was  then  located.  The  town 
became  the  permanent  county-seat  of  Bollinger 
county,  and  after  the  war  its  name  was  changed 
to  that  of  Marble  Hill  ;  in  consequence  of  which 
the  church  changed  its  name  to  that  of  Marble 
Hill  Church. 

This  church  was  org.anized  about  the  year  1848. 
Doubtless,  Elder  George  Coker  was  its  first  pas- 
tor, as  it  appears  that  he  lived  near  this  phice  for 
several  years  prior  to  the  war.  The  venerable 
Wm.  Settle  was  its  pnstor  in  1869,  in  which  year 
the  writer  came  to  the  county,  and  soon  after  the 
death  of  Elder  Settle,  became  pastor  here  and 
continued  for  several  years. 

This  church  has  enjoyed  several  great  revival 
seasons,  but  the  most  remarkable  was  that  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Hembree,  in  the  year 
1883,  assisted  by  Elders  T.  A.  and  B.  L.  Bow- 
man. More  than  one  hundred  were  converted, 
ninety  of  whom  united  with  the  church.  Rev.  J. 
S.    Gashwiler,  A.   M.,    Associated   Principal  of 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI  109 

Mayfiekl-Siiiith  Academy,  located  at  this  place, 
is  pastor  at  this  time. 

Trace  Creek  Church  was  organized  some  time 
previous  to  the  war,  but  at  what  date  we  know 
not.  It  is  located  at  the  head  of  Trace  Creek, 
Bollinger  county.  Elders  Pinckney  Graham  and 
Wm.  Settle  seem  to  have  been  among  the  first 
ministers  attending  this  church.  It  was  a  some- 
what weak  church  at  the  start,  but  continued  to 
increase  with  more  or  less  prosperity  for  a  num- 
ber of  years;  but  like  many  others  it  has  had  its 
share  of  difficulties  to  encounter,  which  have 
tried  its  faith  and  patience  to  the  utmost. 

Right  here  we  wish  to  mention,  that  while  it  is 
truly  painful  to  the  feelings  of  any  Baptist  writer 
or  historian  to  have  to  chronicle  any  matter  of 
difficulty  arising  in  imy  Baptist  church,  and  w^hile 
we  have  not  so  far  in  these  sketches,  nor  will  we 
iu  the  future  allude  to  such  things  so  far  as 
giving  details  is  concerned,  yet  in  this  instance 
we  feel  called  upon  to  give  one  of  the  most  pecul- 
iar incidents  of  church  difficulties  we  have  ever 
met,  and  which  shows  the  spirit  of  evil  and  non- 
conformity, that  may  rise  in  a  church,  as  well  as 
the  important  right  and  power  of  an  association 
of  sister  churches  to  Avithdraw  from  any  dis- 
orderly church,  or  fraction  of  a  church,  when  all 


110  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

conciliatory  means  fail  to  satisfy  or  restore  them. 

CHURCH  DIFFICULTY. 

The  follosving  report  of  the  Committee  on 
the  case  of  the  Trace  Creek  Church  is  clipped 
from  the  Minutes  of  the  St.  Francois  Association 
for  the  year  of  1880,  which  session  was  held  at 
Smithville,  Bollinger  county,  September  1st,  of 
that  year  : 
Dear  Brethren: 

AVe,  your  Committee,  submit  the  following : 
First,  on  investigation  we  find  that  a  difficulty 
arose  between  brethren  J.  C.  Hembrce  and  T.  J. 
Rawls,  which  they  could  not  settle ;  whereupon  it 
occurs  that  Bro.  Rawls  brought  it  to  the  church 
for  them  to  settle,  from  which  we  gather  the  fol- 
lowing facts:  First,  the  church  did  call  a  council 
composed  of  deacons  and  ministers  of  sister 
churches;  said  council  convened  with  the  church 
and  in  their  judgment  did  decide  that  the  charges 
ao^ainst  Bro.  Ilembree  were  not  sustained;  and 
that  the  report  of  said  council  was  received  by  the 
church  to  be  considered  at  their  next  meeting,  at 
which  time  they  failed  to  recognize  said  report. 
But  upon  motion  of  Bro.  Rawls,  then  acting  as 
plaintive,  Bro.  Hembree,  defendant,  was  ex- 
cluded. Now  from  these  facts  the  following 
queries  arise:   First,  Did  the  church   do  right  in 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  Ill 

not  considering  the  opinion  of  stiid  council? 
Second,  Is  it  right  for  either  party  submitting  a 
case  before  a  church  to  make  motions  relative  to 
the  case?  Third,  Is  it  proper  or  right  for  said 
church,  upon  motion  of  j^flciintiffov  defendant^  to 
withdraw  their  fellowship  from  other  brethren 
and  sisters  of  good  standing  who  cannot  acquiesce 
in  the  former  action  of  the  church?  Fourth,  Is 
a  church  out  of  order  to  exclude  twenty-five 
members  of  good  standing  by  a  rising  vote  of 
seven,  when  there  are  twenty -two  members  pres- 
ent in  the  house,  and  at  the  same  time?  Their 
Rules  of  Decorum  say  that  a  majority  of  the 
members  present  shall  rule.  Fifth,  Is  the  church 
out  of  order  to  prefer  charges  against  members 
without  giving  them  notice  that  charges  will  be 
brought  asiainst  them  ?  Now,  as  reoardin^j  the 
action  of  the  Association  concerning  the  above- 
mentioned  queries,  the  proceedings  show  that 
every  one  was  answered  in  the  negative,  and 
therefore  considered  to  be  altogether  contrary  to 
Baptist  usage  ;  in  consequence  of  which  the  dele- 
gates. Rev.  Aaron  McKelvey,  M.  Brinley  and  M. 
A.  Poe,  representing  the  members  who  had 
entered  their  solemn  protest  against  such  unbap- 
tistic  proceedings,  Avere  invited  to  seats  as  the 
lawful  representatives  of  Trace  Creek  Church. 


112  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

In  conclusion,  as  the  reader  may  wonder  what 
the  charo'es  were  which  were  brous^ht  a^-ainst  the 
said  J.  C.  Hembree,  then  pastor  of  Trace  Creek 
Church,  it  is  but  proper  in  his  behalf  and  in  the 
vindication  of  a  faithful  pastor,  to  state  the  facts 
as  they  were  represented  to  the  church  and  Com- 
mittee first  mentioned,  which  were  as  folloAVs: 

The  said  T.  J.  Rawls,  then  a  leading  member 
of  Trace  Creek  Church,  was  charged  by  public 
opinion  of  open,  base  conduct  with  his  sister-in- 
law  to  the  discredit  of  his  family  and  the  church, 
which  conduct  had  been  mentioned  by  several 
faithful  brethren  to  the  pastor,  who  spoke  of  it 
to  others,  who  made  inquiry  concerning  it,  as  a 
shame  and  a  sin.  This  Rawls  heard  of,  and  thus 
brought  it  to  the  qhurch,  attempting  to  charge 
Mr.  Hembree  with  having  made  false  statements 
concerning  him  which  he  said  he  could  prove; 
but  which  on  trial  before  the  church  and  an  able 
Committee  from  sister  churches,  he  absolutely 
failed  to  do,  as  was  decided  by  the  Committee. 

THE   VINDICATION   OF   MINISTERIAL    STANDING. 

Having  first  mentioned  the  vindication  of  the 
faithful  members  of  Trace  Creek  Church  by  the 
Association,  we  will  here  give  the  vindication  of 
ministerial  standing  which  came  up  at  the  same 
meeting  of  the  Association,    which  shows  the  im- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  113 

portant  relation  the  churches  hold,  in  an  Asso- 
ciational  capacity,  in  protecting  themselves  and 
the  cause  against  impostors,  as  well  as  unrul}^ 
factions  of  churches,  as  follows  : 

*'We,  your  Committee  on  Ministerial  Stand- 
ing, are  happy  to  say  that  all  the  ministers  within 
the  bounds  of  this  Association ,  so  far  as  we  can 
learn,  are  in  good  standing,  except  Bro.  T.  J. 
Mansfield,  against  whom  your  Committee  have 
injurious  reports  from  letters  and  Minutes  of  the 
Cumberland  Association  of  Missionary  Baptists, 
held  with  Union  Church,  Sequache  county, 
Tenn.,  September  12th,  1879,  from  which  we 
quote  as  follows : 

*The  Committee  on  the  State  of  the  Ministers 
of  this  Association  [Cumberland]  beg  leave  to 
state  that  by  the  blessings  of  Providence,  the 
ministers  of  this  Association  are  in  good  stand- 
ing, except  Elder  T.  J.  Mansfield.  The  report  is 
that  he  has  been  living  in  adultery  with  a  woman 
whom  he  took  with  himself  and  family  and  left 
this  country,  which  statement  corroborates  with 
private  letters  received,  and  reports  current  in 
this  country  [Missouri].' 

This  report  was  adopted  with  the  following 
resolution:  Resolved,  That  we  warn  all  our 
churches  against  receiving  to  their  pulpits  as  pas- 


114  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

tor,  01*  otherwise,  any  man  or  men,  who  are  not 
under  a  tongue  of  good  report  and  well  recom- 
mended." 

Thus  is  the  cause  and  the  ministry  vindicated 
by  the  Association  ;  although  it  is  a  shame  to  say 
that  the  Rawl's  faction  of  Trace  Creek  Church, 
after  passing  the  above  resolution,  chose  or  called 
said  Mansfield  as  their  pastor,  to  the  shame  of 
themselves  and  community,  until  he  again  fled 
from  the  oflScers  of  civil  law,  leaving  them  to  the 
fate  of  their  disgraceful  and  unbaptistic  conduct. 
But  Trace  Creek  Church  was  rescued  from  shame 
and  fanaticism.  They  now  have  a  good  house  of 
worship,  with  a  respectable  membership.  The 
beloved  Wm.  R.  Moore,  of  Fredericktown,  is  its 
pastor. 

LEADING  MINISTERS  OF  ST.  FRANCOIS  ASSOCIATION. 

We  will  here  briefly  review,  in  connection  with 
the  churches  of  this  Association,  the  lives  of  the 
leading  ministers  who  established  and  built  up 
those  churches,  as  well  as  others. 

ELD.    CARTER    T.    GRAHAM. 

This  devoted  minister  was  a  native  of  either 
North  Carolina  or  Tennessee;  was  born  Septem- 
ber 6th,  1800.  He  came  to  Missouri  and  settled 
in  Madison  county  in  October,  1827.  He  was 
converted  in  his  thirty-fourth  year,  and  united 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  115 

with  the  St.  Francois  Church — being  baptized  by 
Elder  H.  McElmurry  in  Big  Creek,  not  far  from 
his  own  door,  and  only  about  one  hundred  yards 
from  the  family  graveyard,  where  his  body  now 
rests.  He  was  one  of  the  constituent  members 
of  Big  Creek  Church  in  1835,  and  was  soon 
afterwards  sent  forth  into  the  ministry  by  the 
same  body,  becoming  its  pastor  and  remaining 
with  it  until  his  death.  Although  he  was  a  fron- 
tier man,  with  but  little  educational  advantages, 
yet  he  was  surpassed  by  few  men  in  natural  en- 
dowments. He  was  uncompromising  in  his  min- 
istry, opposed  to  pulpit  affiliation  and  open  com- 
munion ;  but  was  in  favor  of  feet-washinaj  as  a 
church  ordinance.  He  was  only  what  was  called 
a  farmer  preacher,  but  was  very  successful  in 
building  up  churches,  there  being  but  few  in 
Madison  county,  where  he  commenced  preaching. 
He  generally  had  charge  of  four  churches,  some 
of  them  twenty-five  miles  from  his  home ;  he  was 
faithful  to  the  last.  He  died  October  5th,  1861, 
having  preached  his  last  sermon,  which  ^vas  one 
of  his  strongest,  at  Big  Creek,  his  home  church, 
on  September  15th,  just  twenty  days  before  his 
death.  He  was  taken  sick  on  the  16th,  grew 
worse,  until  he  gave  up  the  ghost.  Though  suf- 
fering greatly,  he  endured  with  patience  and  for- 


116  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

titude  to  the  end  ;  exhorting  to  the  hist  his  family 
and  friends  who  came  to  witness  the  triumphant 
death  of  a  Christian  soldier, — in  his  day,  one  of 
the  most  useful  men  of  Southeast  Missouri. 

ELD.    ANDERSOX  HUGHES. 

This  man,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  was  born 
October  6th,  1822,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  country  when  but  a  boy.  They  settled  in 
Wayne  county,  where  he  was  converted  when 
about  twenty  years  old  ;  was  baptized  by  Eld. 
Wm.  Settle  into  the  fellowship  of  the  St.  Fran- 
cois Church  in  1847.  Soon  after  this  he  com- 
menced to  preach,  and  was  ordained  at  Cedar 
Creek  Church.  He  was  a  vocal  music  teacher  as 
well  as  a  preacher,  and,  therefore,  was  a  great 
blessing  to  the  churches  and  communities  of  the 
St.  Francois  Association.  He  was  a  great  re- 
vivalist, at  the  services  of  which  he  doubtless  con- 
tracted his  last  illness.  He  died  November  27th, 
1863. 

ELD.    JOSEPH    CROWXY. 

Of  this  brother  we  know  but  little.  He  was , 
for  a  time,  a  Methodist  preacher  ;  but  finally  be- 
came a  Baptist,  and  was  ordained  by  them  to  the 
work  of  the  Gospel  ministry.  After  preaching 
a  few  years,  he  died  sometime  in  the  year  of 
1865.     He  w^as,  doubtless,  a  good  preacher,  as  a 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  117 

resolution,  giving  a  high  tribute  of  respect  to  his 
memory,  was  passed  at  the  session  of  the  St. 
Francois  Association  the  same  year,  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  That  this  Association  has  sustained  a 
great  loss  in  the  death  of  Elder  Joseph  Crowly, 
a  devoted  minister  Christ.  He  was  a  pious 
Christian  man,  and  rests  from  his  labors.  That 
it  is  the  Christian  duty  of  the  brethren  of  this 
Association  to  see  that  his  widow  and  minor 
heirs  do  not  want  for  the  comforts  of  life. 
(Minutes  of  1865.) 

ELD.    WILLIAM   W.   SETTLE. 

Having  been  personally  associated  with  Bro. 
Settle,  in  connection  with  Elder  Pinckney  Gra- 
ham, during  their  last  years,  we  could  write  at 
great  length  of  their  labors  of  love  and  grand 
achievements  for  the  cause  of  Christ  in  South- 
east Missouri,  if  space  would  permit.  While 
none  are  more  worthy,  yet  other  deserving  min- 
isters are  to  be  mentioned,  which  compels  us  to 
brevity  in  these  sketches.  Elder  Settle  was  a 
native  of  Tennessee.  He  was  born  April  9th, 
1809,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Barnett, 
daughter  of  George  Barnett,  with  whom  he  came 
to  this  country  in  1833.  In  1834  he  settled  in 
the  southern  part  of  Madison  county,  and  pro- 
fessed religion ;  not  long  after  he  joined  the  church 


iia 


THE    BAPTISTS   OF 


and  commenced  to  preach.  He  was  ordained  by 
order  of  Big  Creek  Church  about  the  year  1839. 
Shortly  after  this,  he  was  appointed  Missionary 
for  Southeast  Missouri  and  Northern  Arkansas 
by  the  American  Baptist  Home  Missionary  Soci- 
ety, in  which  service  he  spent  two  years  when  he 
settled  where  Piedmont  now  stands,  in  Wa3^ne 
county.  After  a  few  years  of  faithful  labor  in 
this  district,  in  which  he  established  several 
churches,  he  removed  to  Twelve  Mile,  Madison 
county,  where  he  again  settled,  laboring  under 
the  disadvantages  of  opening  up  a  new  farm. 
However,  he  continued  to  preach  on  Sundays, 
receiving  a  small  remuneration.  But  he  labored 
and  prospered  until  he  arose  above  want,  reach- 
ing comfortable  circumstances.  From  this  point 
he  went  forth,  a  strong  mmister,  building  up 
churches  and  establishing  the  cause  of  Christ  in 
many  communities  in  Southeast  Missouri.  It 
may  be  said  in  truth,  that  among  the  great 
preachers  who  have  lived  in  Southeast  Missouri, 
Elder  Settle  stood  second  to  none.  He  was 
troubled  with  dyspepsia,  in  consequence  of  which 
he  ate  no  meats  or  fruit  of  any  kind  for  twenty 
years.  He  died  in  October,  1870,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-one  years,  having  been  in  the  ministry 
thirty-one  years. 


SOUTHEAS-r   MiSSOtRt.  119 

ELD.    PIXCliXEY    GRAHAM. 

Bro.  Graham,  who  succeeded  Elder  Settle 
about  seven  years,  was  a  native  of  Green  county, 
Kentucky  ;  was  born  January  28th,  1813.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  Southeast  Missouri 
when  but  a  bov,  thirteen  years  old.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-two,  he  professed  faith  in  Christ  and 
united  with  the  Big  Creek  Baptist  Church,  in 
Madison  county,  of  which  church  he  was  pastor 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  ordained  to 
the  ministry  in  October,  1857,  from  which  time 
to  his  death,  he  was  a  faithful  servant  and  pastor 
of  churches.  He  was  a  good  Moderator,  and  fre- 
quently presided  over  the  deliberations  of  the  St. 
Francois  Association. 

He  held,  in  common  with  most  of  the  brethren 
before  him,  that  feet-washing,  as  set  forth  in  St. 
John,  13th  chapter,  was  an  ordinance  of  the 
Gospel,  and  should  be  attended  to  by  all  the 
churches.  He  was  a  humble  servant,  a  plain, 
practical  preacher,  and  a  warm  exborter ;  and 
was,  therefore,  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of 
many  souls.  Bro.  Graham  did  not  believe  in 
pulpit  affiliations  with  other  sects,  or  anything 
else  that  tended  to  weaken  the  Baptist  cause.  He 
died  at  his  home  in  Madison  county,  July  3, 1877, 
at  the  aofe  of  sixtv-four  vears  and  six  months. 


120  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

We  have  thus  far  mentioned  a  few  of  the  lead- 
ing churches  and  ministers  who  were  in  the  or- 
ganization and  work  of  the  St.  Francois  Associa- 
tion up  to  the  death  of  Ekler  Pinckney  Graham, 
who  was  the  hist  of  the  okl  veterans,  whose  good 
examples  w^ill  live  long  in  the  memory  of  those 
who  knew  them  best. 

JUDGE  E.  L.  GRAHAM. 

Judge  Graham  was  born  February  25th,  1834, 
in  Madison  county.  Mo.  In  1854  he  professed 
faith  in  Christ  and  was  baptized  January  Gth, 
1855  into  the  fellowship  of  Old  Big  Creek  Bap- 
tist Church,  from  which  he  was  a  chartered  mem- 
ber into  the  organization  of  the  Twelve  Mile 
Church,  which  was  organized  at  or  near  his  home, 
situated  on  a  beautiful  stream  called  Twelve 
Mile,  in  Madison  county.  He  was  chosen  Clerk 
of  his  church  in  185(),  and  has  served  as  Secre- 
tary and  Recorder  of  the  St.  Francois  Associa- 
tion most  of  the  time  for  more  than  twenty  years. 
In  1882  he  was  elected  Chief  Justice  of  the 
County  Court,  of  Madison  county,  the  duties  of 
which  office  he  discharged  honorably  to  himself 
and  with  fidelity  to  his  constituents  and  country. 
When  quite  young  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
C.  Whitner,  daughter  of  Henry  Whitner,  of  his 
native  county.     As  a  result  of  this  union,  he  has 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  121 

reared  a  large  and  much  respected  family,  most 
of  whom  are  now  grown,  and  have  been  reason- 
ably well  educated  as  well  as  trained  to  industry 
and  economy.  However,  this  is  only  one  of 
quite  a  number  of  equally  large  and  much- 
respected  families  of  this  name  in  Southeast 
Missouri. 

NEW  CHURCHES  AND  MINISTERS. 

We  will  now  continue  our  narrative,  but  with  a 
comparatively  new  body  of  churches  and  minis- 
ters. 

Twelve  Mile  Church  is  located  on  a  stream  of 
that  name,  near  the  residence  of  Judge  E.  L. 
Graham,  of  Madison  county,  (the  efficient  Clerk 
and  Recorder  of  the  St.  Francois  Association.) 
This  is  quite  on  influential  body  and  has  enjoyed 
several  good  revival  seasons.  In  1885  it  reported 
a  membership  of  one  hundred  and  one.  Elder 
Wm.  R.  Moore  was  pastor. 

Shady  Grove,  located  two  and  one-half  miles 
northeast  of  Fredericktown,  is  quite  an  old 
church.  We  find,  as  early  as  1854,  Elder  Joseph 
Johnson,  now  of  Marysville,  Cal.,  was  preach- 
ing to  this  community.  Some  time  after  a 
church  was  established.  Of  its  constituent  mem- 
bers old  Father  Ely  Desha  was  doubtless  among 
the  most  prominent,  as  he   was  Clerk  for  many 


122  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

3^ears  ;  though  only  a  lay  member,  he  was  a  good 
example  of  faithfulness  and  piety.  He  died  in 
the  year  1874.  L.  W.  Revelle  is  a  resident  min- 
ister of  this  communit3^  He  has  a  splendid  farm 
and  residence  and  is  therefore  able  to  do  much 
for  the  cause.  He  is  an  able  donor  to  the  May- 
field-Smith  Acadeni}'.  Elder  Joseph  Johnson, 
first  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  Avork  of 
this  church,  and  who  resided  in  what  is  called  the 
Creek  Nation,  some  eight  miles  southwest  of 
Fredericktown,  was  probably  the  first  pastor  of 
this  church,  having  spent  about  fifteen  years 
preaching  in  the  bounds  of  the  St.  Francois  Asso- 
ciation. He  was  a  great  revivalist,  full  of  the 
spirit  of  exhortation  and  prayer ;  and  therefore 
spent  much  time  in  protracted  meetings.  We 
here  orjve  the  followinor  amusinoj  statement  of  an 
old  Hardshell  Baptist  brother  who  did  not  be- 
lieve in  protracted  meetings  like  these  Missionary 
Baptists  held. 

*'Why,  sir,"  said  the  old  Hardshell  brother  to 
another  of  like  faith  with  himself,  "if  there  isn't 
a  stop  put  to  these  missionaries"  (referring  to 
Johnson's  protracted  meetings)  '*they  will  soon 
have  the  Gospel  preached  to  all  the  world,  and 
the  first  thing  we  know  the  end  will  come  right 
here  among  us." 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.        '  123 

Mt.  Carmel  Church  is  located  on  a  high  plateau 
of  hind  situated  between  the  head  waters  of  Har- 
rican,  Whitewater  and  Crooked  Creek,  Bollinger 
county.  The  name  by  which  the  community  is 
most  familiarly  called  is  Yount's  Settlement.  This 
church  was  organized  with  fourteen  members  at 
what  was  called  the  Green  school-house,  in  June, 
1869,  by  the  writer,  assisted  by  Elder  Pinckney 
Graham.  The  constituent  members  of  this 
church  were  principally  from  Castor  Church.  Of 
the  leading  lay-members  connected  with  the  Mt. 
Carmel  Church,  Ave  mention  old  Father  Jacob 
Yount,  George  W.  Mayfield  and  James  Hender- 
son, who  was  ordained  the  first  deacon,  excepting 
the  writer,  and  wife.  Their  families  constituted 
the  main  body  of  the  church  at  the  start.  Old 
Bro.  Jacob  Yount  was  among  the  first  to  settle 
here,  and  has  resided  where  he  now  lives  for  more 
than  fifty  years.  He  is  truly  a  pioneer  man,  true 
and  faithful  to  principle,  ever  standing  upon  the 
dignity  of  his  word.  James  Henderson  is  a 
native  of  Tennessee,  but  has  resided  in  this 
country  for  many  years.  He  is  a  man  of  meek 
and  quiet  temperament,  just  such  as  should 
always  be  sought  to  fill  the  office  of  deacon.  In 
connection  with  these  leading  families,  mention 
should  be  made  of  Peter  Sb'nkard  and  family, 


124  THE     BAPTISTS    CF 

who  came  to  this  community  since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church  and  became  leading  members. 
With  few  exceptions,  this  is  truly  a  Baptist 
family.  The  mother  of  this  family  was  a  true 
Baptist,  and  though  dead,  she  *'yet  speaketh." 

This  was  the  first  permanent  Baptist  Church 
ever  established  in  this  part  of  the  county,  which 
community  had  been  under  the  control  of  the 
Methodists  and  Lutherans  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  But  Mt.  Carmel  has  been  a  fruitful  vine 
since  three  other  colonies  of  Baptists  have  gone 
out  from  her  borders  to  establish  Baptist 
churches  in  adjacent  communities.  This  church 
has  passed  through  some  hard  trials  in  its  efforts 
to  disciple  unruly  members;  but,  by  the  grace  of 
God,  has  always  stood  together  as  a  body.  Not- 
withstanding fire  brands  have  been  cast  into  the 
midst,  and  seeds  of  discord  sown,  yet  the  former 
would  not  burn,  neither  would  the  latter  take 
root  nor  grow.  Of  the  eighteen  years  since  the 
organization  of  this  church,  the  writer  has  served 
thirteen  as  pastor.  Elder  Wm.  London,  of 
Madison  county,  is  at  present  its  faithful  pastor. 

Big  Whitewater  Church  is  located  on  the  old 
historic  Bnptist  ground  which  is  at  the  great 
gushing  spring  in  the  extreme  northern  part  of 
Bollinger  county.     It  was  here  the  grand  Wm. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  125 

Polk  pla3'ed  when  but  a  little  boy,  some  eighty 
years  ago ;  and  it  was  here  in  after  years  he  first 
preached  the  Gospel  and  assisted  in  establishing 
the  cause  which,  though  weak  at  this  time,  is  still 
living. 

Bethel  Church  was  a  Mission  Church,  estab- 
lished in  1878,  w^ien  the  writer  was  missionary — 
the  same  year  that  Little  Whitewater  and  other 
churches  were  established.  It  is  located  at  the 
head  of  Little  Whitewater,  some  five  miles  west 
of  Patton,  Bollinger  county.  It  was  a  weak 
church  at  the  start,  but  has  established  itself  with 
a  good  hewed  log  house  of  w^orship,  and  is  hav- 
ing a  heavy  increase.  Bro.  Bennett  Hartle,  who 
is  a  resident  minister  of  this  church,  was  ordained 
in  1886.  The  church  now  numbers  somethinsr 
over  thirty  members.  Elder  Wm.  London  is 
pastor  at  this  time.  Among  the  prominent 
members  of  this  church  are  Joseph  Burcham, 
James  Skaggs,  and  Elder  Bennett  Hartle. 

It  has  been  mentioned  that  one  of  the  last 
works  of  Elder  Wm.  W.  Settle  was  to  organize  a 
Baptist  church  at  Fredericktown,  which  he  did  in 
January,  1870,  assisted  by  Silas  Livermore. 
This  church  was  called  the  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Fredericktown.  Elder  Settle  was  chosen  pas- 
tor,  and  so    continued    until   his   death,    which 


126  THE   BAPTISTS    OF 

occurred  in  1871;  after  which,  there  beino:  no 
house  of  worship,  the  church  scattered.  In  June, 
1872,  it  was  re-organized,  with  thirteen  members, 
since  which  time  it  has  been  under  the  leadership 
of  Rev.  V.  T.  Settle,  a  native  of  Virginia.  It  is 
now  established  with  a  commodious  house  of  wor- 
ship, and  numbers  some  forty  members.  The 
session  of  the  St.  Francois  Association  for  1885 
was  held  with  this  church.  Eld.  V.  T.  Settle 
was  Moderator.  It  had  then  been  forty-eight 
years  since  a  Missionary  Baptist  Association  had 
gathered  at  this  old  historical  town. 

New  Salem  Church  is  located  on  Harrican 
Creek,  Bollinger  county,  six  miles  north  of  Mar- 
ble Hill,  the  county-seat.  It  was  organized  by 
Elder  Monroe  Bobbins,  assisted  by  Bev.  T.  A. 
Bowman — the  year  and  date  is  lacking.  Elder 
Bobbins  was  the  first  pastor,  and  so  continued  for 
several  years.  Under  his  pastorate,  the  church 
prospered  steadily  but  not  rapidly,  building  a 
good  house  of  worship,  which  was  burned  down 
when  near  completion,  supposed  to  be  the  work 
of  an  incendiary ;  but,  like  the  faithful  bees  when 
robbed,  they  soon  rallied  their  forces  and  rebuilt 
a  second  good  and  commodious  house.  In  1885 
they  enjoyed  a  good  revival  under  the  leadership 
of  Bev.  J.  C.  Hembree,  then  the  pastor.     They 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  127 

now  number  nearly  sixty  members.  Rev.  L.  S. 
Yount  was  pastor  in  1886,  this  being  his  first  pas- 
torate. 

ELD.    MONROE    ROBBINS. 

Elder  Monroe  Bobbins,  a  member  of  the  New 
Salem  Church,  was  a  native  of  Madison  county, 
Missouri,  which  makes  him  decidedly  a  South- 
missourian,  and,  like  most  others  of  his  time,  he 
enjoyed  but  a  limited  education.  He,  possessing 
a  strong  will,  energy  of  mind,  and  studious 
habits,  is,  at  this  time,  quite  a  good,  influen- 
tial preacher.  He  was  converted  at  a  protracted 
meeting  held  by  the  author  in  the  community 
where  the  church  is  located,  about  the  close  of  the 
year  of  1870.  Soon  after  he  commenced  to 
preach,  and  was  ordained  at  Mt.  Carmel,  where 
he  then  held  membership,  in  the  year  1875. 
Since  then  he  has  been  a  faithful  and  useful  min- 
ister. After  serving  as  pastor  of  several  churches, 
he  was  chosen  Missionary  of  the  St.  Francois  As- 
sociation for  1885.  He  brought  in  a  good  re- 
port, having  labored  114  days,  preached  147  ser- 
mons, received  into  the  fellowship  of  the 
churches,  59  converts  and  organized  two 
churches  ;  for  which  he  received  $142.50.  In  the 
meantime,  acting  as  colporteur  of  the  St.  Louis 
Baptist  Publishing  Company,  of  St.    Louis,  he 


128  THE    BArTISTS    OF 

sold  75  books,  and  distributed  500  tracts;  as  a 
result  of  this  good  report,  he  was  continued  mis- 
sionary for  1886.  He  was  a  liberal  donor  to  the 
Mavfield-Smith  Academy. 

ELDER  JOSEPH  HEMBREE. 

Elder  Joseph  Hembree,  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  came  to  this  State  from  East  Tennes- 
see, in  which  State  he  was  living  when  he  was 
converted  to  Christ  and  united  with  the  Baptists. 
Soon  after  this  he  manifested  a  call  to  the  min- 
istry and  was  licensed  to  preach.  Shortly  after- 
wards he  left  that  State  for  the  western  part  of 
Missouri,  but  was  detained  in  Bollinger 
county,  Southeast  Missouri,  in  consequence 
of  the  death  of  one  of  his  children.  He  first 
located  in  what  is  known  as  the  Flat  Woods,  some 
six  miles  west  of  Lutesville,  where  a  church  was 
established  known  as  the  Flat  Woods'  Church  of 
which  he  became  a  member.  It  was  here  in 
Southeast  Missouri  where  he  began  his  public 
career.  He  was  ordained  by  the  author,  assisted 
by  Elder  Elisha  Sanders,  in  the  year  1873.  He 
has  since  been  a  useful,  faithful  and  energetic 
servant  of  Christ,  having  served  as  pastor  of  a 
number  of  churches  in  the  St.  Francois  Associa- 
tion, prominent  among  which  are  Sylvan,  Trace 
Creek,    Twelve   Mile,    "Mt.    Carmel    and  Marble 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  129 

Hill,  in  which  church  he  holds  membership.  He 
has  also  had  charge  of  the  Gravel  Hill  Church,  of 
the  Cape  Girardeau  Association,  and  is  at  this 
time,  188G,  the  efficient  missionary  of  that  Asso- 
ciation. Bro.  Hembree  is  a  man  of  a  good  liberal 
education ;  and  having  in  his  charge  a  large 
family  to  care  for,  he  sometimes  resorts  to 
school  teaching  for  a  livelihood,  in  which  profes- 
sion he  ranks  among  our  best  public  school 
teachers.  He  has  borne  a  faithful  part  as  a  donor 
to,  and  supporter  of  the  Mayfield-Smith  Acad- 
emy. Finally,  he  has  been  tried  as  by  fire, 
having  suffered  many  hard  trials  and  even  unjust 
persecutions  for  the  sake  of  the  cause ;  but  the 
Lord  has  so  far  delivered  him  out  of  it  all  and  he 
yet  gives  promise  of  years  of  usefulness. 

ELDER  B.  L.  BO^^^IAX. 

This  self-made,  but  no  less  efficient,  minister 
was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Virginia,  Jinuary 
31st,  1837;  came  to  Cape  Girardeau  county, 
Missouri,  in  October,  1853.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Eliza  Jane  Ford,  October  6th,  1856;  and  was 
converted  under  the  ministry  of  Elder  James 
Reid  in  the  winter  of  1869,  when  he  united  with  the 
Goshen  Church  ;  by  the  order  of  this  church  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  three  months  after  his  bap- 
tism, and  one  year  afterwards  was   ordained  to 


130  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

the  full  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry.  He  served 
as  pastor  of  the  following  churches:  Goshen, 
Ebenezer,  Oak  Kidge,  Gravel  Hill,  and  New 
Bethel  of  the  Cape  Girardeau  Association.  He 
reruoved  to  Bollinger  county  in  1877,  and  united 
Avith  the  Marble  Hill  Church,  which  church  he 
served  as  pastor,  in  connection  with  Mt.  Carmel, 
Castor  and  Trace  Creek  churches  of  the  St. 
Francois  Association,  besides  doing  more  or  less 
missionary  work  for  the  Associations  above- 
named.  He  also  served  as  missionary  one  year 
for  the  General  Association  of  Missouri,  includ- 
ing pastoral  work  for  Morley  Church  in  the 
Charleston  Association.  All  these  services  have 
been  performed  in  the  district  of  Southeast  Mis- 
souri. 

ELDER  v.  T.  SETTLE. 

This  hard-workino-  and  efficient  minister  is  a 

CD 

native  of  Virginia,  being  born  in  Warren  county 
of  that  State,  on  the  28th  of  May,  1823.  He 
completed  his  scholastic  education  at  Lisbon  In- 
stitute, London  county,  Virginia  ;  professed  faith 
in  Christ  and  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  in 
May,  1844,  and  was  ordained  to  the  ministry 
September,  1855.  His  first  pastorate  was  in 
Lexington,  Va. ;  he  was  afterwards  pastor  of 
churches     in    Amherst,    Nelson,    Augusta    and 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  131 

Rockingham  counties.  In  April,  1872,  ho 
emigrated  to  Missouri,  and  settled  in  Freder- 
icktown,  Madison  county,  where  he  has  re- 
sided for  more  than  fifteen  years.  During 
this  time  he  has  been  the  constant  pastor  of 
the  first  Baptist  Church  of  Fredericktown, 
as  a  result  of  which  the  church  now  has  a 
good,  commodious  house  of  worship.  Als(>^ 
he  has  served  as  pastor  of  Des  Arc  Church 
in  Wayne  county,  Pleasant  Hill  in  Scott  county, 
and  St.  Joe  in  St.  Francois  county.  He  has  pre- 
sided over  the  deliberations  of  the  St.  Francois 
Association  several  times.  He  was  Moderator 
when  the  Association  convened  with  his  church  at 
Fredericktown,  which  was  the  first  missionary 
body  of  the  kind  which  had  met  at  that  place  for 
forty-eight  years.  It  was  a  profitable  and  pleas- 
ant gathering. 

Little  Whitewater  Church  was  organized  with 
fourteen  constituent  members  in  1878,  when  the 
author  was  missionary  of  St.  Francois  Associa- 
tion. It  was  the  result  of  a  revival  meeting  held 
at  the  Bollinger  school-house,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood adjoining  to  where  the  church  is  no\^  per- 
manently located,  and  at  what  is  now  called  May- 
field,  in  Bollinger  county.  This  was  doubtless 
the  first  great  revival  ever  held  by  Baptists  in 


132  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

this  community,  which  had  been  first  settled  in 
1804  by  the  Bollingers,  a  family  from  North 
Carolina.  Thus  three  quarters  of  a  century  had 
passed  and  this  field  had  never  been  permanently 
occupied  by  the  Gospel  cause.  This  church  is  a 
progressive,  working  body,  occupying  a  good 
house  of  worship,  which  is  nearly  completed.  It 
is  located  near  the  residence  of  old  brother  Geo. 
W.  May  field,  on  a  site  he  gave  to  the  church. 
They  now  have  a  regular  pastor  and  a  live  Sun- 
day-school which  is  well  attended.  The  author 
has  had  the  honor  of  serving  this  church  most  of 
the  time  for  the  last  nine  j^ears,  when  it  has  in- 
creased from  fourteen  to  sixty-one  members. 
Among  the  most  prominent  members  of  this 
church  we  w^ill  mention  the  following:  old  Bro. 
Geo.  W.  Mayfield,  his  wife  and  sons,  Eman- 
uel Mayfield,  M.  D.,  Steven  Mayfield,  M.  D.,  R. 
S.  Mayfield,  squire  and  post-master  at  this  place, 
Jefferson  Mayfield,  M.  D.,  and  other  grand-sons, 
Thomas  James  and  A.  Punch. 

GEO.  W\  MAYFIELD. 

Old  Bro.  Mayfield  and  wife  were  mentioned  as 
constituent  members  in  the  organization  of  the 
Mt.  Carmel  Church  ;  but  when  the  Little  White- 
water became  established  at  their  own  home,  they 
removed  their  membership  and  became  identified 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  133 

with  it;  hence  their  connection  with  its  history. 
Old  Bro.  Mayfield  has  been  a  citizen  of  this  com- 
munity nearly  all  his  long  and  useful  life,  having 
resided  at  this  place  since  he  was  two  years  old. 
He  was  the  j^oungest  of  a  large  family,  which 
came  from  North  Carolina  and  settled  here  in 
very  early  times.  He  has  reared  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  respectable  families  of  the  com- 
munity—seven sons  and  one  daughter.  Of  his 
sons  all  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  ex- 
cept one,  who,  though  not  a  member  of  an}^ 
church,  is  a  good  citizen  and  ranks  among  the 
best  farmers  in  the  communitv.  His  daughter 
and  son-in-law,  residing  in  another  community, 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  South.  In 
point  of  intelligence  and  moral  progress  they  are 
worthy  of  mention  as  no  ordinary  family,  con- 
sidering their  chances;  for  while  others  with 
equal  chances,  both  in  means  and  opportunity, 
have  wasted  their  time  and  means  and  are  at  this 
time  only  moral  wrecks,  unfit  for  society  in  this 
life,  and  still  less  for  that  which  is  to  come, 
these  noble  sons  are  to  them  and  to  the  world, 
grand  examples.  They  have  sought  the  religion 
of  Christ  and  found  it ;  education  and  found  it ; 
position  and  found  it;  in  fact,  everything  they  in 
righteousness  sought  for,  they  found.     Five  out 


134  TIIK   BAPTISTS   OV" 

of  the  six  members  of  the  church  have  gone  forth 
as  graduates  of  the  medical  }orofession.  Dr.  AV. 
H.  May  field,  now  of  St.  Louis,  has  served  two 
terms  as  Professor  of  Materia  Medica,  in  the  St. 
Louis  School  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  Dr. 
A.  J.  Mayfield,  now  post-master  at  Lutesville, 
Mo.,  is  one  of  the  best  physicians  in  the  county, 
while  all  are  comparatively  successful. 

Brethren  James  and  Punch  with  their  families 
are  faithful  workers  in  the  church  and  Sun- 
day-school for  which  the}'  are  worthy  of  mention 
in  this  sketch.  Rev.  L.  S.  Yount,  of  Mt.  Car- 
mel,  is  pastor  at  this  time,  this  being  his  second 
pastorate. 

Pleasant  Hill  Church  is  situated  on  the  border 
of  the  Mingo  Swamp,  in  the  southern  part  of 
Bollinger  county.  It  was  organized  in  1883,  or 
1884,  by  Rev.  James  P.  Revelle  and  others.  Bro. 
Revelle  was  chosen  its  first  pastor.  A  house  of 
worship  is  in  course  of  building  at  the  old  Revelle 
homestead,  which  may  be  mentioned  as  an  old 
historic  Baptist  ground,  since  as  far  back  as 
1816,  we  observe  the  name  of  E.  Revelle  in  con- 
nection with  Thomas  Johnson  and  others,  as 
delegates  from  a  church  then  c.illed  Turkey 
Creek  Church — located  somewhere  in  the  above- 
named  communitv — to  the  first   Baptist  Ccnven- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  135 

tion  looking  to  the  formation  of  the  first  Baptist 
Association  west  of  the  great  river,  which  meet- 
ing was  held  with  the  Bethel  Church,  Cape  Girar- 
deau county,  in  the  fall  of  1816,  when  the  Bethel 
Association  was  organized.    As  to  the  date  of  the 
organization  of  the  Turkey  Creek  Church,  we  are 
not  informed,  but  it   was   doubtless  among  the 
first  in   the   wilderness   of   Missouri   Territory ; 
neither  can  wo  say  how  long  it  continued  faithful 
to  the  principles   of  the   United,  or  Missionary, 
Baptist   faith.     But  it   is   known   that   in   after 
years  it  became  an  Anti-mission  body,  embracing 
Parkerism    and  Anti-npmianism,   after   which  it 
seems,  fi:om  some  cause,  to  have  borne  the  name 
of  Dry  Creek  Church,  as  the  following  amusing 
sequel  will  show  the  name  of  the  church  and  the 
doctrine  advocated :  One,  Thomas  J.   Revelle,  a 
Baptist  minister  of  Dry  Creek  Church  was  ex- 
cluded for  advocating  that  God  made  the  devil, 
while  the  church  at  the  same  time  advocated  that 
the  devil  was  self-existent,  and   that  God  would 
save  his  own  elect  children ;  but  those  who  were 
not  his   chosen   elect   were  the  children  of  the 
devil  and  therefore  would  have  to  suffer  the  in- 
evitable consequences.     This  Anti-mission  idea  is 
now  about  extinct,  and  upon  its  ruins  is  estab- 
lished the  truth  of  the  Gospel,  in  the  organiza- 


136  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 

lion  of  the  Pleasant  Hill  Church,  of  which  the 
faithful  James  P.  Revelle  is  pastor.  The  church 
now  numbers  thirtj^-seven  members. 

JAMES  p.    REVELLE. 

This  beloved  young  preacher  was  born  in  Bol- 
linger county  and  brought  up  in  this  old  historic 
community.  He  received  a  good  common  school 
education  ;  professed  faith  in  Christ  and  was  bap- 
tized into  the  fellowship  of  Shady  Grove  Church 
by  Elder  Joseph  Johnson,  soon  after  which  he 
felt  it  his  duty  to  preach.  After  a  few  years  he 
was  ordained,  by  order  of  the  Shady  Grove 
Church,  to  the  full  work  of  the  ministry ;  since 
this  time  he  has  been  a  useful,  influential  servant 
of  Christ,  having  served  as  pastor  of  several  dif- 
ferent churches. 

WM.    R.    MOORE. 

This  well-loved  young  preacher  is  a  native  of 
Tennessee.  He  came  to  this  state  with  his 
father's  family  when  but  a  boy,  and  settled  with 
them  in  the  neighborhood  of  Shady  Grove 
Church,  near  Fredericktown,  in  which  place  he 
now  lives.  When  quite  young,  he  professed  re- 
ligion and  w^as  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of 
Shady  Grove  Church,  by  Elder  Johnson,  about 
the  year  1867.  Subsequently,  he  felt  it  his  duty 
to  warn  sinners  to  repentance,  and  was  ordained, 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  137 

by  order  of  Shad}^  Grove  Church,  by  the  author, 
assisted  by  Elder  Wm.  London,  in  December, 
1882;  since  which  time  he  has  proven  himself  to 
be  a  faithful  and  studious  minister,  and  now 
ranks  among  our  most  svorth}^  pastors.  He  has 
had  the  care  of  several  churches,  and  is,  at  pres- 
ent, pastor  of  Twelve  Mile,  Castor,  and  Trace 
Creek  Churches.  He  lives  at  P^redericktown, 
Madison  county,  and  is  a  much  respected  citizen. 
Ebenezer  Church  is  located  at  the  head  of 
Twelve  Mile,  a  small  stream  tributary  to  the  St. 
Francois  River,  about  eight  miles  south  of  Fred- 
ericktown,  Madison  county.  It  was  organized 
by  F.  M.  Holbrooks  and  others,  in  the  year  1874. 
It  is  near  the  home  of  the  beloved  Wm.  London. 
It  is  somewhat  a  weak  church;  but  has  built  a 
house  of  worship,  and  is  still  moving  on  with  a 
gradual  increase.  It  now  numbers  forty-two 
members,  with  T.  McClintock,  pastor.  Bro. 
McCliiitock  came  from  the  Methodists  to  the 
Baptists,  and  thus  far  has  been  a  faithful,  ener- 
getic young  minister. 

ELDER   WM.    LOXDOX. 

This  brother  is  a  resident  minister  of  the 
Ebenezer  Church,  and  is  much  esteemed  for  his 
faithful  Christian  integrity  and  faithfulness  to  his 
charges.     He    has  been    in   the    ministry   about 


lo8  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 

twenty  years,  and  has  served  quite  a  number  of 
churches.  We  will  mention  Twelve  Mile,  Pisgah, 
Beulah,  Big  Creek,  Shady  Grove,  Ebenezer, 
Bethel,  Mt.  Car m el,  and  others.  He,  like  many 
others  in  Southeast  Missouri,  had  but  little  op- 
portunity to  obtain  an  education,  and  has  not  the 
power  following  a  classical  training;  but,  having 
a  realizing  trust  in  the  Spirit  of  Christ  when  try- 
ing to  speak,  he  is  a  warm  exhorter,  full  of 
prayer,  and  of  spiritual  power.  He  has  accom- 
plished considerable  good  in  leading  souls  to 
Christ,  having  held  several  important  revival 
meetings. 

Having  mentioned  nearly  all  of  the  leading 
churches  and  ministers  that  have  been  in- 
cluded in  this  long  and  tedious  chapter,  we 
close  it  with  the  apology  that  most  of  those 
churches  and  ministers  have  shown  themselves  so 
faithful  in  their  devotion  to  sustain,  by  their 
prayers,  sympathy,  and  gifts,  the  enterprise  of 
establishing  the  Mayfield-Smith  Academy,  a 
school  under  the  patronage  of  the  St.  Francois 
Association,  in  which  their  children  and  friends 
can  enjoy  the  benefits  of  a  Christian  education. 
They  have  otherwise  been  faithful  in  giving  to, 
and  sustaining,  the  missionary  work  at  home  and 
abroad.     As   others   had   heretofore   been   men- 


SOUTHEAST   MlSSOrilt.  loU 

tioned,  it  would  have  been  an  unpardonable  par- 
tiality which  could  not  be  indulged. 

THE   PROGRESSIVE   WORK   OF   THE   ASSOCIATION. 

We  will  now  proceed  w  ith  the  onward  progres- 
sive work  of  the  Association.  In  the  Minutes 
for  1886,  the  following  ministers  and  churches 
were  represented:  Bethel,  Big  Creek,  Beulah, 
Brush  Creek,  Castor,  Ebenezer,  Fredericktown, 
Friendship,  Hickory  Grove,  Little  Whitewater, 
Marble  Hill,  Mt.  Carmel,  Mt.  Pisgah,  Mt.  Leb- 
anon, Mt.  Pleasant,  New  Salem,  Pleasant  Hill, 
Sylvan,  Shady  Grove,  Twelve  Mile,  Trace  Creek, 
Whitewater  and  Bollinger's  Mills,  in  all,  twenty- 
three,  with  a  total  membership  of  1136  ;  81  bap- 
tisms reported  this  year  from  the  churches,  and 
two  new  churches  were  received. 

The  ministers  represented  this  year  were : 
Wm.  London,  Uriah  Jamison,  Y.  T.  Settle, 
Joseph  Hembree,  T.  McClintock,  M.  Bobbins, 
L.  AY.  Revel le,  James  P.  Revelle,  Wm.  R.  Moore, 
D.  W.  Graves,  J.  S.  Gashwiler,  L.  S.  Yount, 
Leonard  Welker,  and  H.  F.  Tong. 

EDUCATIONAL     ENTERPRISE    OF    THE    ASSOCIATION. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  at  the  session  of 
the  Association  held  with  Bioc  Creek  Church, 
Madison  county,  1878,  the  Association  accepted 
a   proposition   from   the  citizens  of   Smithville, 


140  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

Bollinger  county,  for  $11,000,  to  commence  the 
work  of  establishing  an  institution  of  learning  to 
be  under  the  supervision  of  the  St.  Francois 
Baptist  Association,  as  submitted  in  the  report  of 
Dr.  W.  H.  Mayfield,  Financial  Agent  of  th 
Association  for  that  year.  (Minutes  of  1878, 
page  5.)  On  page  7  of  the  same  Minutes,  we 
find  the  following  as  a  supplement  to  the  above  : 

*'Bro.  Mayfield,  having  read  a  communication 
from  the  citizens  of  Smithville,  offering  as  an  in- 
ducement, in  money  and  pledges,  $1,100,  for  the 
establishing  of  an  institution  of  learning  at  that 
place,  which  should  be  under  the  control  and 
management  of  the  St.  Francois  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation ;  the  proposition  w^as  unanimously  ac- 
cepted and  adopted,  and  additional  pledges  were 
taken  to  the  amount  of  $242.50,  making  a  total 
of  $1,342.50,  with  the  following  resolution  : 

Resolved,  That  this  Association  accept  the 
proposition  made  by  the  citizens  of  Smithville, 
through  Bro.  W.  H.  Mayfield,  to  erect  a  college 
building  at  that  place,  to  be  owned  and  controlled 
by  the  St.  Francois  Baptist  Association,  and  that 
Brethren  W.  H.  Mayfield,  J.  Q.  A.  Wbitner  aud 
E.  L.  Graham  be  appointed  by  this  Association 
to  solicit  the  co-operation  of  all  the  Baptist 
Associations  of  Southeast  Missouri ;  and  that  the 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  141 

said  Committee  proceed,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to 
erect  suitable  buildiiigs  in,  or  near,  said  town  for 
the  use  of  said  school ;  expcndiiioj  such  moneys  in 
the  erecting  of  said  buildings  as  they  may  be 
able  to  secure ;  and  that  said  Committee  be 
authorized  to  appoint  such  agents  as  may  be 
necessary  to  carry  on  the  work.  The  college  to 
be  under  the  management  and  control  of  a  Board 
of  Trustees  appointed  hy  this  Association.  The 
deed  of  the  property  shall  be  made  to  them 
in  trust  for  the  St.  Francois  Association. 
They  shall  take  charge  of  all  the  property  of  the 
Institution  ;  elect  its  teachers ;  exercise  a  general 
supervision  over  all  its  affairs,  and  make  report 
of  the  condition,  of  the  school  at  each  annual 
meeting  of  the  Association.  Said  Board  for  the 
present  year  shall  consist  of  three  members  from 
this  body,  and  one  from  each  of  the  following 
Associations,  to-wit :  Wayne  county,  Cape  Girar- 
deau, Cane  Creek  and  Franklin.  Any  member 
is  eligible  to  be  a  trustee  who  will  actively  en- 
gage in  the  interest  of  the  school." 

The  following  brethren  were  appointed,  viz.  : 
John  F.  Sitze,  W.  H.  Mayfield,  of  St.  Francois 
Association ;  E.  P.  Settle,  of  Wayne  county 
Association;  Alexander  Jennings,  of  Franklin 
Asaociation;  H.  H.  Williams,  of  Cape  Girardeau 


142  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

Association;  and  William  Sparkman,  of  Cane 
Creek  Association.  Thus  it  is  to  be  seen  that 
the  St.  Francois  Association  laid  the  foundation 
of  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  useful  enter- 
prises hitherto  engaged  in  by  any  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation in  Southeast  Missouri.  Its  name  was  de- 
cided upon  by  a  Convention  of  Baptists  held  at 
Smithville  in  the  year  1879,  which  unanimously 
resolved  to  adopt  the  name  of  Mayfield-Suiith 
Academy,  in  honor  of  W.  H.  Maytield,  M. 
D.  and  Henry  Smith,  M.  D.,  of  Smithville, 
who  were  among  the  first  movers  in  this  grand 
enterprise  at  that  place.  At  the  session  of  the 
Association  held  with  Mt.  Carmel  Church  the 
same  year,  this  name  was  submitted  and  adopted, 
which  name  it  has  borne  since  that  time. 

At  the  session  held  with  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Smithville,  in  September,  1880,  the  Board  in- 
formed the  Association  that  the  Building  Com- 
mittee was  compelled  to  suspend  operations  on 
the  building  for  want  of  means  ;  and  that  the 
school  at  that  place  under  the  supervision  of 
Prof.  T.  W.  Tate,  which  had  been  in  session  five 
months,  had  to  suspend  farther  operations  for 
want  of  support.  In  consequence  of  which  re- 
port a  resolution  was  adopted  instructing  the 
Board   to  seek  bids  for   its   location   elsewhere, 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  143 

that  might  be  more  favorable  to  the  support  of 
the  enterprise.  In  accordance  with  these  in- 
structions, arrangements  were  soon  made  to  re- 
move and  establish  the  Institution  at  Marble  Hill, 
the  county-seat  of  Bollinger  county.  It  w^as 
commenced  in  the  year  1881.  Thus,  the  uncom- 
promising spirit  and  faithfulness  of  energy, 
against  all  obstacles  to  the  contrary,  were  Avon- 
derfully  manifested  by  the  leading  brethren  of 
the  Association,  and  proved  a  most  significant  re- 
buke' to  all  faltering  dispositions  throughout 
Southeast  Missouri,  as  will  appear  from  the  re- 
port of  the  Board  at  the  session  held  with  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Fredericktown,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1885,  which  is  here  given.  The  Board 
of  Mayfield-Smith  Academy,  for  the  St.  Francois 
Association,  take  great  pleasure  in  reporting  to 
your  honorable  body  : 

That  after  a  long  and  arduous  struggle,  they 
can  now  show  you  your  long-wished- for  School 
Building — a  building  for  which  we  are  all  thank- 
ful,— and  one  which  the  best  judges  phice  in 
value  at  $8,000  or  $10,000.  Your  Trustees  have 
labored  unceasingly  to  accomplish  this  object, 
though  it  cost  them  many  long  trips  and  late  ses- 
sions, day  and  night,  to  accomplish  it. 

We  are  humiliated  to  know  that  in  the  desper- 


H4  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

ate  struggle  to  complete  the  l)uilding,  some  of 
our  brethren  have  had  to  throw  their  homes  and 
property  on  the  altar  to  make  the  enterprise  a 
success ;  but  with  the  exception  of  a  small 
amount,  the  school  is  absolutely  free  from  debt. 
This  was  a  gratifying  report,  and  was  adopted 
with  an  accompanying  resolution  instructing  the 
Trustees  to  procure  a  charter  for  the  Institution. 

As  a  memorial  to  them,  we  here  give  the  names 
of  the  leading  brethren,  who  so  faithfully  dis- 
tinoruished  themselves  in  the  establishment  of  this 
Institution  : 

Wm.  H.  Mayfield,  M.  D.,  Hon.  F.  M.  Wells, 
Hon.  John  W.  Revelle,  Rev.  J.  C.  Hembree, 
Rev.  Monroe  Robbins,  John  F.  Sitze,  Henry 
Whitner,  A.  J.  Mayfield,  M.  D.,  John  Q.  A. 
Whitner,  David  Cheek,  Rev.  H.  F.  Tong,  Wilson 
Warner,  Eld.  Levy  W.  Revelle,  E.  L.  Graham, 
Francis  Graham,  A.  McKelvey,  M.  D.,  Michael 
Brinley,  Jefferson  Powell,  Henry  Cheek,  Enoch 
Robertson,  F.  C.  Shell. 

These  were  the  chief  Baptist  donors,  while 
many  others,  too  numerous  to  mention,  gave 
liberally  according  to  their  means.  Of  those 
who  were  not  Baptists,  we  will  mention  the  fol- 
lowing : 

Hon.    Moses  Whybark,  Hon.    Frank  Kinder, 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  145 

Hon.  B.  F.  Stevens,  Hon.  Marion  Snyder,  Dr. 
Jacques,  M.  D.,  George  Clark,  David  Lutz, 
Henry  Smith,  M.  D.,  of  Smithville.  Besides 
these,  many  other  friends,  not  Baptists,  in  the 
bounds  of  the  Association,  gave  liberally  ;  but  we 
have  not  their  names.  We  wish  we  could  give 
the  names  of  brethren  and  friends  of  other  Asso- 
ciations, whose  means  aided  us  much.  But  as 
we  cannot,  we  will  say  that  the  most  liberal  help 
from  other  Associations  came  from  the  Cape 
Girardeau  and  Black  Kiver  Associations,  for 
which  we  tender  our  most  humble  thanks. 

LOCATION   OF   MAYFIELD-SMITII   ACADEMY. 

This  location  of  the  Academy  is  most  desir- 
able, as  it  is  in  a  most  healthful  and  retired 
part  of  the  country,  in  an  industrious  community, 
amidst  a  society  of  growing  intelligence,  morality 
and  refinement,  and  where  churches  and  Sunday- 
schools  are  numerous  and  well  attended.  Marble 
Hill  and  Lutesville,  within  a  short  distance  and 
full  view  of  the  Academy,  are  pleasant  towns  on 
the  Southeast  branch  of  the  Iron  Mountain  Rail- 
way, 133  and  1-3  miles  from  St.  Louis,  and 
thirty  miles  by  railway  from  Cape  Girardeau  on 
the  Mississippi.  These  towns,  with  their  advan- 
tages of  being  reasonably  healthful,  having  good 
society,  being  surrounded  by  beautiful  scenery 


116  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

and  free  from  much  of  the  seducing  idleness,  im- 
morality and  vice  found  in  the  larger  cities,  make 
this  rising  and  prosperous  institution  one  of  the 
most  desirable  schools  for  seekers  after  educa- 
tion in  all  Southeast  Missouri.  It  is  adapted  to 
the  educational  needs  of  both  sexes.  Board  can 
be  obtained  here,  doubtless,  as  reasonably  as  any- 
where else. 

The  site  of  the  Academy  has  been  well  chosen. 
The  building — a  magnificent  brick,  30x60,  and 
two  stories  high — crowns  one  of  the  most  beauti- 
ful eminences,  over-looking  the  quiet  and  pleas- 
ant towns  of  Marble  Hill  and  Lutesville,  and  the 
beautiful  valley  and  stream  which  intervenes. 
The  eyes  of  the  beholder  may  also  feast  on  the 
magnificent  scenery  of  the  surrounding  hills 
which  rise  one  above  the  the  other,  until  they 
seem  to  fade  away  in  the  beautiful  sky  far  be- 
yond ;  the  whole  presenting  at  once  a  panorama, 
lovely,  picturesque  and  sublime;  and  therefore 
calculated  to  arouse  the  holiest  emotions  of  the 
soul,  lifting  the  eyes  up  from  Nature  to  Nature's 
God. 

Two  successful  sessions  have  been  taught,  be- 
ginning in  the  fall  of  1884  and  ending  in  Septem- 
ber, 1886,  under  the  supervision  of  Prof.  D.  W. 
Graves,  Principal,  Miss  Ida  M.  Price  and  Miss 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  147 

H.  M.  Settle— grand-daughter  of  Elder  Wm. 
Settle — teachers  of  the  Primary  and  Intermediate 
Departments.  Eighty-three  pupils  were  enrolled 
the  first  session;  the  second  session,  ninety-nine. 
The  third  session  opened  with  renewed  hope,  and 
now  has  115  pupils  enrolled.  Encouraged  by  the 
addition  to  the  faculty  of  Prof.  J.  S.  Gashwiler, 
late  President  of  Farmington  College,  and  an 
able  and  experienced  educator,  the  school  gives 
evidence  of  decided  success.  For  much  of  the 
above  information  regarding  the  school  and  its 
location,  we  are  indebted  to  Prof.  D.  W.  Graves, 
in  the  Second  Annual  Catalogue,  pp.  11  and  12. 
The  Trustees  are,  Rev.  H.  F.  Tong,  President, 
Marquand,  Mo.;  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Mayfield,  Secre- 
tary, St.  Louis,  Mo.  ;  F.  M.  Wells,  Treasurer, 
Marble  Hill,  Mo.  ;  John  W.  Revelle,  Lutesville  ; 
R.  E.  Robertson,  Marble  Hill ;  members  of  St. 
Francois  Association,  and  Col.  H.  H.  Williams, 
Jackson;  E.  P.  Settle,  Greenville,  and  A.  S. 
Jennings,  Farmington.  The  last  three  were  from 
Cape  Girardeau,  Wayne  and  Franklin  Associa- 
tions. 

BIOGRAPHY    OF  THE    FIRST  PRINCIPAL  OF  THIS 
ACADEMY. 

In  connection  with  the  opening  of  the   school 
at  Smithville,  already  alluded  to,  it  is  but  proper 


148  THE     BAPTISTS   OF 

that  mention  be  ojiven  here  of  the  self-sacrificino: 
labors  of  Prof.  T.  W.  Tate  and  wife,  who  came 
from  North  Liberty,  Mo.,  to  take  charge  of  the 
school  at  its  first  session. 

Prof.  Tate  was,  I  believe,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, but  was  principally  educated  in  this  State, 
and  is  truly  a  scholar  as  well  as  a  high-toned 
Christian  gentleman.  Mrs.  Tate  is  also  a  fine 
scholar  and  a  faithful  Christian  lady,  and  there- 
fore well  qualified  to  take  charge  of  any  Christian 
school.  Their  ability  was  well  tested  in  the 
patient  toil  and  sacrifices  they  endured  during 
their  short  stay  in  this  uncultivated  field.  Bro. 
Tate  was  ordained  here  to  the  full  work  of  the 
Gospel  ministry,  by  order  of  the  Baptist  Church 
at  Smithville,  while  the  author  was  pastor. 
Shortly  after  he  was  called  to  this  pastorate, 
which  was  his  first,  and  in  which  he  proved  his 
efficiency  for  the  work.  During  his  short  stay, 
and  under  his  ministry,  there  was  a  great  awaken- 
ing among  the  people,  and  some  fourteen,  or 
more,  converts  were  added  to  the  membership  of 
the  church.  He  is  now  the  successful  pastor  of 
the  East  Sedalia  Baptist  Church.  We  will  here 
mention  to  his  honor  that  it  was  under  his  pious 
influence,  while  teacher  at  Smithville,  that  Rev. 
H.  S.  Tong,  a  brother   of  the   writer,   was  con- 


SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI.  149 

verted  to  Christ  and  united  with  the  church,  being 
baptized  by  the  writer  who  was  then  pastor  of 
the  church.  Shortly  after  this  young  brother — 
now  at  rest — but  then  one  of  the  most  faithful 
students  of  the  school,  feeling  it  his  duty  to  call 
sinners  to  repentance,  was  licensed  by  order  of 
Ml.  Carmel  Church,  and  went  forth  as  a  minister 
and  colporteur  by  order  of  the  St.  Francois  Asso- 
ciation, for  the  year  1881;  the  result  of  which 
we^give  from  his  report  submitted  to  the  Asso- 
ciation while  in  session  at  Marble  Hill,  in  Sep- 
tember of  that  year,  as  shown  from  the  Minutes 
now  before  us:  total  amount  of  sales,  $823.85; 
miles  travelled,  3,250;  number  of  volumes  sold, 
593  ;  tracts  distributed,  3,000;  number  of  pam- 
phlets, 225.  For  this  grand  and  unprecedented 
report,  a  unanimous  resolution  Avas  adopted, 
recommending  him  to  the  patronage  of  the  Amer- 
ican Baptist  Publication  Society,  of  Philadelphia. 
In  this  work  he  spent  a  little  over  three  years, 
when  he  was  called  to  his  reward  on  hi^h.  He 
always  expressed  the  greatest  regard  for  Prof. 
Tate  and  wife,  who  led  him  in  the  rudiments  of 
Christian  education. 

It  is  truly  painful  for  me  to  conclude  this 
chapter  by  mentioning  his  last  work  and  death  ; 
but  as  a  worthy  tribute,  I  submit   the  followino- : 


150  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

**After  three  years  of  service  in  this  work, 
Bro.  H.  S.  Tong  made  his  last  report,  soon  after 
which  he  died,  June  13th,  1884.  Among  those 
who  have  fallen  at  their  post  was  our  brother,  H. 
S.  Tong,  who  deserves  more  than  passing  notice. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise,  of  whom 
we  entertained  great  hopes.  But  in  the  midst  of 
his  usefulness  he  was  taken  up  higher.  His  min- 
istry was  brief,  but  very  marked  and  earnest. 
He  made  it  his  meat  and  drink  to  work  for  the 
Master."  Rev.  B.  L.  Bowman,  Chairman  of 
Committee  on  Obituaries.     See  Minutes  of  1884. 

This  report  av/akened  a  deeper  interest  in  the 
colporteur  work  than  had  ever  been  before,  until 
many  hundred  families  now  have  Bibles,  Testa- 
ments and  religious  literature,  which  would 
probably  not  have  been  obtained  otherwise. 

PROF.  DAVID  W.  GRATES. 

Prof.  David  W.  Graves  is  a  native  of  Virginia. 
He  was  born  in  Pittsylvania  county,  of  that  State, 
February  28th,  1837;  but  wheu  three  years  old 
his  father  moved  to  Missouri  and  located  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  where  he  opened  up  a  large 
farm — engaging  in  stock-raising  extensively — 
soon  accumulating  a  large  estate.  It  was  hert,- 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  brought  up.  He 
received  his  early  education  from  private  schools. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  151 

as  public  schools  had  notj^et  been  organized.  He 
was  indebted,  more  than  to  any  one  else,  fot  his 
early  education]  to  his  uncle,  D.  N.  Norvlin,  who 
w^as  a  finished  scholar,  and  who  kept  a  private 
school  in  the  community  for  years.  His  educa- 
tion was  completed  at  William  Jewell  College 
and  the  University  of  Missouri,  graduating  at  the 
University  in  1862.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Julia  A.  Crockett,  daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  N.  M. 
Crockett,  March  18th,  1863.  He  united  with  the 
Baptist  church  when  about  18  years  of  age,  and 
was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry 
in  February,  1865.  Since  then  he  has  served  the 
following  churches  as  pastor :  Zion,  Liberty, 
Lentro,  Middleston,  Troy,  Oak  Ridge,  Little 
Whitewater,  and  others  temporarily.  He  has 
also  had  charge  over,  and  taught  in,  the  following 
high  schools:  LaGrange  College,  Kentucky; 
Montgomery  College,  Missouri;  Graves'  Acad- 
emy, at  Smithville ;  Graves'  Academy  at  Patton, 
Mo. ;  and  is  now  President  of  the  Mayfield-Smith 
Academy  at  Marble  Hill,  Bollinger  county,  Mo. 
Bro.  Graves  is  a  zealous,  faithful  worker,  a  plain, 
practical  preacher ;  an  able  and  efficient  teacher, 
possessing  a  meek  and  quiet  disposition.  He  is 
much  loved  and  respected  by  all  with  whom  he 
comes  in  contact.    Through  his  sacrificing  efforts 


152  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 

the  Mayfield-Smith  Academy  now  ranks  as  one  of 
the  most  successful  schools  in  Southeast  IMissouri. 

PROF.  J.  S.  GASHWILER. 

This  vounoj  teacher  is  a  native  of  Missouri. 
He  was  boru  at  the  residence  of  his  grand-father, 
Rev.  J.  W.  Gashwiler,  near  Troy,  Mo.,  May  29, 
1849.  His  father  havinoj  died  in  California  when 
he  was  but  two  years  old,  he  was  brought  up  by 
his  orrand father.  His  ancestors  on  his  father's 
side  were  of  German  extract.  His  mother  was  a 
Virginian,  and  was  of  Scotch  descent;  her  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Reid.  He  received  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  times, 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  which  hindered 
him  for  a  season  from  entering  higher  schools. 
Near  the  close  ©f  the  war,  he  entered  Steven's 
Commercial  College,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where 
he  stayed  until  the  war  closed,  after  which 
he  entered  the  State  University  and  there 
continued  through  the  years  of  1867  and 
18G8,  when  he  entered  a  select  school  at  his 
home  for  one  year.  He  then  went  to  Cen- 
tral College,  where  he  remained  five  months ; 
after  this  he  went  with  his  uncle  to  the  Indian 
Nation,  spending  probably  a  year.  Return- 
ing home  he  taught  school  for  a  year,  when  he 
entered   Mt,  Pleasant  College,  remaining  there 


SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI.  153 

four  years  (with  the  exception  of  a  few  months 
spent  at  Central  College),  and  graduated  June 
19th,  1874.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Louise  Harris,  daughter  of  Mr.  Harrison  Harris, 
formerly  of  Virginia,  an  accomplished  and 
scholarly  Christian  lady,  from  Cambridge,  where 
he  had  been  teaching  the  public  school.  He 
moved  to  Brownsville  and  established  a  high 
school ;  but  his  stay  here  w^as  short  on  account  of 
the  bad  health  of  his  family.  From  here  he 
went  to  Marshall,  from  which  place  he  was  called 
to  the  Professorship  of  Belleview  College,  Wash- 
ington county,  Mo.  He  went  from  here  to 
Farmington,  connty-seat  of  St.  Francois  county. 
Mo.,  and  established  the  Farmington  College, 
September  10th,  1883,  which  was  a  flourishing 
school,  with  112  pupils  enrolled.  Having  sold 
out  this  Institution  to  the  Franklin  Baptist  Asso- 
ciation, he  engaged  as  partner  wuth  Prof.  D.  W. 
Graves,  in  the  Mayfield- Smith  Academy,  at  Mar- 
ble Hill,  Bollinger  county.  Mo.,  and  entered 
upon  his  duties  in  that  school,  September  6th, 
1886,  the  opening  of  its  third  session. 

He  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  Gospel 
ministry  by  order  of  Liberty  Church,  Washington 
county,  Mo.,  on  Dec.  25th,  1881.  In  1882  or 
1883,   he  became  the  successful  pastor  of  the 


154  THE   BAPTISTS    OF 

Baptist   Church   at  Bismarck,  Mo.,  and   at  this 
time  is  pastor  of  the  church  at  Marble  Hill,  Mo. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  155 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE    CANE    CREEK  ASSOCIATION. 

This  Association  was  organized  in  the  year  of 
1857,  and  is  the  sixth  Association  in  Southeast 
Missouri.  It  was  formed  of  a  colony  of  five 
churches  dismissed  from  the  Blacli  River  Asso- 
ciation the  same  year.  Like  all  the  other  Asso- 
ciations mentioned,  it  was  a  missionary  body 
from  the  start,  evidence  of  which  fact  is  shown 
by  its  name — Cane  Creek  Association  of  United 
Missionary  Baptists.  It  did  not  make  any  very 
marked  progress  at  the  start,  in  consequence  of 
the  war,  which  broke  out  soon  after  its  organiza- 
tion. In  1866,  after  the  war.  Elder  Timothy 
Reaves  submitted  a  good  report  of  missionary 
work  done  by  him  that  year  in  the  bounds  of  the 
Association — having  baptized  over  eighty  persons 
and  organized  five  new  churches.  This  Associa- 
tion is  a  border  Association  of  Southern  Missouri 
and  Northern  Arkansas.  At  the  time  of  its  or- 
ganization it  embraced  a  very  large  field  in  But- 
ler, Carter,  and  Ripley  counties  in  Missouri, 
Clayton  and  Randolph  counties  in  Arkansas,     It 


156        ,  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

has  been  a  progressive  and  influential  body,  since, 
in  seventeen  years  from  its  organization,  it  had 
increased  to  twenty-two  churches,  with  about  700 
members.  The  Missouri  churches  were  Bethel, 
Cane  Creek,  Friendship,  Good  Hope,  Poplar 
Bluff,  Liberty,  Little  Black,  Lidian  Creek,  Hope- 
well, Mt.  Pleasant,  Zion,  Smith's  Cliapel,  Zora, 
and  Mt.  Pleasant  No.  2. 

The  following  facts,  taken  from  the  Minutes  of 
the  several  meetings  of  this  body,  will  be  here 
briefly  mentioned  : 

1.  They  recommended  Baptist  Sabbath-schools 
in  every  church.  2.  Baptist  literature  for  relig- 
ious reading.  3.  Alien  baptisms  rejected.  4. 
That  they  believe  in  the  spread  of  the  Gospel, 
and  therefore  require  their  ministers  to  preach  on 
missions. 

Of  the  ministers  of  this  Association,  we  know 
but  little  at  this  time,  as  it,  like  many  other 
bodies  of  the  kind,  has  preserved  but  little  infor- 
mation respecting  its  ministers.  However,  the 
following,  taken  from  the  Minutes  of  1867,  we 
will  quote  in  memory  of  Bro.  \Vm.  H.  Keaves : 

^'Resolved^  That  this  Association  has  sustained 
a  great  loss  in  the  death  of  our  much  esteemed 
and  beloved  brother,  Elder  Wm.  H.  Keaves,  who 
departed  this  life  on  the  8th  of  December,  1866. 


SOUTHEAST   3IISS0URI.  157 

He  died  in  the  full  triumphs  of  faith,  in  the  fifty- 
third  year  of  his  age." 

From  the  Minutes  of  1885,  we  gather  the  fol- 
lowing summary: 

There  were  16  churches  reported  ;  9  ordained 
ministers ;  29  baptisms  ;  and  a  total  membership 
of  452.  We  are  informed  that  in  the  year  of 
1867,  a  new  Association  was  formed,  called  the 
Western  Missouri  Association,  with  a  member- 
shijD  of  180  members;  but  we  have  no  access  to 
any  Minutes  from  which  to  gather  details.  As 
this  is  located  principally  in  Arkansas,  and  adds 
no  special  importance  to  the  History  of  South- 
east Missouri,  w^e  will  close  the  chapter  on  the 
Cane  Creek  Association. 


158  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 


CHAPTER  VII. 


JEFFERSON  COUNTY  ASSOCIATION. 

This  was  the  seventh  association  organized  in 
Southeast  Missouri,  and  was  mainly  composed 
from  churches  from  the  Franklin  Association. 
A  convention  of  delegates  from  six  churches  met 
at  Bethlehem  Church,  Jefferson  county,  October 
8th,  1853,  and  organized  the  Jefferson  County 
United  Baptist  Association;  Rev.  James  Williams 
presided  at  the  meeting.  We  find,  at  the  first 
annual  meeting,  like  most  of  the  older  bodies  of 
this  kind,  that  they  showed,  by  the  resolutions 
passed,  the  true  spirit  of  progressive  work — by 
recommending  to  the  churches  the  importance  of 
Sunday-schools,  temperance  and  mission  work. 
We  will  not  detain  the  reader  by  referring  to  the 
various  meetings,  but  suffice  it  to  say  that  in  the 
course  of  some  twenty-eight  years,  the  six 
churches  had  gathered  to  their  aid  fourteen  other 
churches,  with  an  aggregate  membership  of  thir- 
teen hundred.  Hence,  no  arguments  are  neces- 
sary to  prove  the  onw^ard  march  of  this  body. 

Of  the  churches  and  leading  ministers  of  this 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI  159 

Association,  we  will  mention  Bethlehem  and 
Swashing,  of  Jefferson  county  and  Calvary 
Church  in  Franklin  county,  as  doubtless  the  old- 
est and  most  important  in  the  organization  of  this 
Association. 

Bethlehem  Church  is  one  of  the  oldest  pioneer 
churches  of  Jefferson  county.  It  was  organized 
in  the  year  1829,  by  the  pioneer  ministers,  James 
Williams  and  Lewis  Williams,  who  were  probably 
the  first  Baptist  ministers  to  establish  the  cause 
of  Christ  in  Jefferson  county.  For  many  years 
the  Bethlehem  Church  was  a  leading  church  of 
the  Franklin  Association.  We  will  not  dwell  on 
the  history  of  James  Williams  in  this  chapter  as 
he  was  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  chap- 
ter on  the  Franklin  Association,  to  which  we 
refer  the  reader. 

Swashing  Church  must  be  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  the  work  of  James  Williams,  having 
been  organized  by  him,  aided  by  Elder  W. 
Stevens,  a  contemporary,  in  1843.  It  is  located 
about  two  miles  from  DeSoto. 

Calvary  Church  is  situated  in  Franklin  county, 
not  far  from  the  Jefferson  county  line,  south.  It 
was  organized  by  Bro.  Lewis  Williams,  in  1829, 
when  he  became  its  first  pastor. 

In  connection  with  this  church  we  will  mention 


IGO  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

David  Stites,  as  one  of  its  first  pastors,  and  a 
contemporary  of  James  and  Lewis  Williams.  He 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812.  He  came  westward  to  Ten- 
nessee, from  thence  to  Missouri,  and  settled  first 
in  St.  Louis  county,  in  quite  early  times.  From 
here  he  went  to  Franklin  county,  soon  after  which 
he  commenced  his  public  life  by  exhortation  aud 
prayer.  His  wife  taught  him  to  j-ead.  He  be- 
gan preaching  soon  after  this,  and  truly  can  the 
author  sympathize  with  him,  since  their  lots  w^ere 
similar.  In  preparing  our  little  sermons,  or 
gathering  religious  knowledge,  our  lamplight — 
that  all  can  now  enjoy — was  a  light  made  of  dry 
sticks  in  the  fire-place,  after  a  hard  day's  work  in 
the  field,  or  in  the  woods,  chopping.  Such  was 
his  lot  aud  such  was  my  lot.  We,  and  many 
other  pioneer  brethren  could  truly  commune  to- 
gether now,  while  our  more  favored  brethren  of 
the  present  time  have,  we  are  thankful  to  say, 
railroads  to  travel  on,  gas  lights  to  read  and 
preach  by ;  yet  doubtless  we  counted  not  our 
hardships  too  much  for  the  glory  of  God.  This 
beloved  brother  spent  many  years  in  poverty  and 
great  afflictions.  At  one  time,  when  he  lost  his 
dear  wife,  he  was  left  with  eleven  children  to  care 
for.     He  distributed  them  among  friends,  and 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  161 

went  forth,  traversing  the  mountains  and  valleys, 
from  Franklin  county  to  Arkansas,  as  a  mission- 
ary, proclaiming  the  Gospel  of  peace  to  the  des- 
titute of  that  region. 

As  I  write,  my  heart  rises  up  in  thankfulness 
for  such  venerated  couraofe  and  faithfulness. 
This  father  in  Israel  finished  his  labors  in  Gentry 
county  about  the  year  1857. 

Of  the  present  ministers  of  this  Association  we 
have  but  little  knowledge.  It  must  suflSce  to  say, 
that  they  are  a  faithful,  consecrated  body  of  min- 
isters. The  reports  of  this  year,  1885,  show  a 
large  ingathering  of  members  in  the  churches. 
There  are  nineteen  churches  reported  on  the  list, 
ten  ordained  ministers,  and  one  hundred  and 
twelve  baptisms,  with  a  total  membership  of 
1,209.  $239.00  were  expended  for  mission 
work. 

Thus  we  can  have  an  idea  of  the  faithful,  pro- 
gressive work  of  this  old  and  consecrated  body, 
during  the  thirty-three  years  since  its  organiza- 
tion. 


162  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 


CHAPTER  Vm. 


WAYNE    COUNTY   ASSOCIATION. 

This  Association  was  the  tenth  organized  in 
Southeast  Missouri,  and  is  principally  situated  in 
Wayne  county,  though  extended  somewhat  into 
the  adjacent  counties.  It  was  organized  at 
McKenzie's  Creek  Church,  at  Piedmont,  Wayne 
county,  Missouri,  in  October,  1875,  by  a  colony 
of  twelve  churches  dismissed  from  the  St.  Fran- 
cois Association  for  that  purpose,  in  September 
of  the  same  year.  The  churches  were,  McKen- 
zie's  Creek,  Phillipi,  Oak  Grove,  Good  Hope, 
Black  River,  Bethel,  Lebanon,  Logan's  Creek, 
Big  Lake  Creek,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Liberty  Hill,  and 
Pleasant  Grove.  The  ministers  officiating  in  the 
organization  were  Elders  Mark  A.  Taylor,  A.  R. 
L.  Meador,  J.  W.  Wilson  and  David  Sheets,  as- 
sisted by  Isaac  Lane,  of  Concord  Association, 
and  S.  W.  Marston,  D.  D.,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
It  was  also  organized  upon  the  principle  of  the 
United  Baptists  and  accordingly  set  to  work.  Its 
progress  w^as  somewhat  hindered  at  the  start  by 
an  Anti-mission  element  among  them  which  still 


SOUTHEAST   3IISSOURI.  1G3 

exists  to  some  extent,  though  much  improvement 
has  been  made  in  the  way  of  contributing  to  the 
various  mission  works,  and  which  was,  no  doubt, 
brought  about  through  their  acquaintance  with 
the  Central  Baptist,  American  Baptist,  and  other 
Baptist  periodicals  scattered  among  them. 

From  the  Minutes  of  1882,  one  of  which  is  be- 
fore us,  we  gather  the  following  facts  :  1.  The 
district  mission  work  of  the  Association  was 
urgently  recommended.  2.  Home  and  foreign 
missions.  3.  Reports  on  family  worship,  tem- 
perance and  ministerial  education  were  read,  ap- 
proved and  recommended.  The  following,  which 
should  have  been  the  first  of  these  items,  was 
offered  by  Bro.  E.  P.  Settle,  previously,  in  1878  : 

Resolved,  That  we  accept  the  proposition  of 
the  St.  Francois  Association,  to  aid  in  building 
an  institution  of  learning  at  Smithville,  which  in- 
stitution is  now  located  at  Marble  Hill,  Bollinger 
county,  Missouri. 

PROGRESS   OF   THE   W^AYNE    COUNTY   ASSOCIATIOX. 

In  the  3^ear  of  1882,  26  churches  were  reported 
on  the  list  which  was  more  than  doubling  the 
number  during  the  short  space  of  seven  years, 
representing  an  aggregate  membership  of  931, 
with  92  baptisms.  The  number  of  ordained  min- 
isters are   not   given;  but  in  the   present  year, 


164  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

1885,  A.  R.  L.  Meador,  Joel  Meador,  W.  P. 
Kime,  Wm.  Graham,  Samuel  Beard  and  N.  O. 
Sowers,  are  the  leadhig  ministers  of  this  body. 
Bro.  N.  O.  Sowers,  serving  as  a  colporteur  and 
missionary,  is  doing  a  good  work.  As  most  of 
the  churches  are  comparatively  new,  and  there- 
fore have  a  history  to  make,  we  will  not  detain 
the  reader  with  any  detailed  accounts  of  their  or- 
ganizations, as  our  information  is  too  meagre  to 
be  satisfactory.  We  are  led  here  to  suggest  that 
each  Association  should  have  a  historical  and  sta- 
tistical secretar}^  who  should,  from  time  to  time, 
compile  and  preserve  such  facts  and  information 
as  would  tend  to  promote  the  historical  informa- 
tion of  each  church  and  leading  ministers  of  the 
Association. 

Of  the  ministers  of  the  Wayne  County  Asso- 
ciation, who  have  fallen  at  their  post,  we  men- 
tion the  beloved  Mark  A.  Taylor  and  Jesse  B. 
Wallis. 

Rev.  Mark  A.  Taylor,  the  leading  spirit  in  the 
organization  of  the  Wayne  County  Association, 
and,  who,  as  a  leading  minister,  spent  his  last 
days  in  its  service,  was  born  in  Lee  county,  Vir- 
ginia, January  2,  1826,  in  which  county  he  lived 
thirty  years.  In  March,  1854,  he  was  married  to 
a  Mifes  Warsen,  and  two  vears  after,   started  to 


SOtJTHEAST   MISSOUni.  165 

the  state  of  Texas.     On  reaching  Wayne  county, 
they  stopped  to  rest  a  few  days,  and,  as  a  result, 
finally  located  in  what  is  now  called  Piedmont, 
Wayne    county,    Missouri,    where    Mr.    Taylor 
opened  up  a  store  and  sold  goods  up  to  the  time 
of  the  civil  war.     He  professed   religion  in  Vir- 
ginia in  the  year  1854.     Whether  he  united  with 
the  Baptist  church   and  commenced  preaching  in 
that  state,   we   are  not  informed.     He   was   or- 
dained by  the  order  of  Sinking  Creek   Baptist 
Cliurch,  (now  extinct),  Reynolds   county,  Mis- 
souri, in  the  year  of  1857,  from    which  time  he 
spent  the  residue  of  his  useful  life  in  the  work  of 
the  ministry,  proving   himself  a  useful  and  ex- 
emplary pastor  of  a  number  of  churches  in  the 
bounds  of  the  St.  Francois  and  Wayne  County 
Asssociations,  as  well  as  a  missionary,  in  which 
role  he  did  a  good  work.     One  event  of  his  life 
is  specially  worthy   of  mention  :     When  he  was 
about  ten  years  old,  he  procured  forty-five  cents 
in  money,  which  he  gave  for  a  Bible,  and  read  it 
through   and   through,   while   other   boys   spent 
their  time  in  sports  and  plays.     He  thus  fitted 
himself  in  this  way  for  a  usefulness  he  doubtless 
thought  not  of  •  but   added  to  this   fact,  he  ob- 
tained a  liberal  education,  which,  with  his  strong 
and   vigorous   intellect,  made  him  a   workman. 


\\\{)  THE    BAPTISTS    or 

who  needed  not  to  be  ashamed.  He  was  among 
the  first  men  of  Southeast  Missouri  to  advocate 
(Christian  education  and  ministerial  culture ;  for 
this  reason  he  was  a  contributor  to  the  William 
Jewell  College.  It  was  the  author's  privilege  to 
know  him  personally,  as  a  truly  pious  and  godly 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  held  in  high  esteem  In- 
all  his  brethren,  both  in  the  St.  Francois  Asso- 
ciation, in  which  he  once  held  membership,  and 
in  the  Wayne  County  Association,  in  which  he 
last  lived.  He  had  accumulated  a  respectable 
living,  and  left  a  good  home  for  his  grief-stricken 
family,  when  he  gave  up  life  on  earth  for  a  home 
in  o-loiv,  October  31,  1879.  He  was  the  founder 
of  the  Baptist  church  in  Greenville,  the  count}-- 
seat  of  Wayne  county,  in  which  he  lived  and 
died. 

ELDER  JESSE   WALLIS. 

This  aged  veteran,  who  lived  for  many  years 
in  Wayne  county,  is  worthy  of  mention  as  a  pio- 
neer minister  of  Southeast  Missouri.  He  had 
held  membership  in  the  Black  River,  St.  Francois 
and  Wayne  County  Associations;  the  latter  being 
the  field  in  which  he  did  his  last  work.  Bro. 
Wallis  was  born  in  Christian  county,  Kentuckv, 
September  12,  1799.  He  emigrated  to  Missouri 
in  1818,   professed  faith   in  Christ   in  1830,  and 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  1G7 

was  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  Black  River 
Baptist  Church,  Stoddard  county,  Missouri,  the 
same  year,  by  Elder  Henry  McElmurry.  He 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  of  the  Gospel,  in 
1831,  by  Elders  McElmurry,  B.  Paramore  and 
John  Ferguson  ;  and  for  fifty -five  years  he  was  a 
successful  laborer,  in  the  bounds  of  the  Black 
River,  St.  Francois  and  AVayne  County  Associa- 
tions. In  this  field  it  is  said  that  he  was  instru- 
mental in  the  establishment  of  forty-six  churches, 
besides  building  up  many  declining  ones.  He 
did  this,  no  doubt,  at  a  sacrifice  unprecedented 
by  any  other  minister  of  Southeast  Missouri,  tak- 
ing wages  of  none — it  has  been  said  that  he  never 
received  more  than  $30.00  for  all  his  labors.  He 
was  somewhat  eccentric  in  his  wnys,  but  possessed 
an  agreeable  temperament,  and  a  quick  and  ready 
mind.  He  exerted  a  good  influence  over  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  Though  not  a 
graduate  in  learning,  he  was  a  strong  self-made 
man  of  no  ordinary  ability.  He  died  at  his  home 
in  Wayne  county,  April  15,  1886,  at  the  great 
age  of  86  years,  5  months,  and  13  days,  after 
having  lived  there  for  fifty  years.  Oh!  what  a 
glorious  life  of  usefulness ! 

We  would   love   to   mention   other   deserving 
brethren  who   have,    doubtless,   fallen   at    t^eir 


168  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

posts,  but  information  is  lacking  concerning  their 
lives. 


SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI.  169 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE    CENTRAL    MISSOURI    AND     CONCORD    ASSOCIA- 
TIONS.  PENNY  WISE  AND  HIS  REPLIES. 

'*Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  Gos- 
pel to  every  creature,"  says  the  Bible. 

**Amen,  provided  they  pay  their  own  ex- 
penses,'' replied  Penny  Wise. 

* 'It  it  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive," 
says  the  Bible. 

* 'It  is  more  blessed  to  receive  than  to  give," 
replies  Penny  Wise. 

*'Thou  shalt  not  muzzle  the  ox  that  treadeth 
out  the  corn,"  says  the  Bible. 

"It  saves  the  corn  to  muzzle  the  ox,"  replies 
Penny  Wise. 

*'He  that  soweth  bountifully,  shall  reap 
bountifully,"  says  the  Bible. 

*'It  is  a  waste  of  precious  seed,"  replies  Penny 
Wise. 

*'He  that  hath  pity  on  the  poor,  lendeth  unto 
the  Lord,"  says  the  Bible. 

**I  don't  like  the  security,"  replies  Penny 
Wise. 


170  THE  BAPTISTS   OF 

"Distribute  to  the  necessity  of  saints,"  says 
the  Bible. 

*'Let  them  take  care  of  themselves,"  replies 
Penny  Wise. 

"The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire,"  says  the 
Bible. 

"Let  others  pay  him,"  says  Penny  Wise. 

"The  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil," 
says  the  Bible. 

"I  love  the  root,"  replies  Penny  Wise. 

"Distribute  and  communicate,"  says  the  Bible. 

"It  doesn't  pay,"  replies  Penny  Wise. 

"God  loves  a  cheerful  giver,"  says  the  Bible. 
But  Penny  Wise  gives  grudgingly.  Does  the 
Lord  love  Penny  Wise? 

THE  CENTRAL  MISSOURI  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Central  Missouri  Association,  the  eighth 
organized  in  Southeast  Missouri,  was  organized 
at  Mt.  Pleasant  Church,  on  Black  River,  in  Rey- 
nolds county,  in  1858,  from  a  colony  of  eight 
churches  dismissed  from  the  Bethel  Association 
at  its  session  previously  held  the  sume  year  with 
New  Hope  Church,  St.  Francois  county.  The 
churches  were  Mt.  Pleasant,  Big  Creek,  Pleasant 
Grove,  White  Oak  Grove,  Sugar  Tree  Grove, 
Mt.  Gilead,  Mt.  Zion  and  Locust  Grove. 

The  Minutes  of  this    vear    show   that   Elders 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURt.  171 

Wm.  Polk,  Harvey  Young  and  James  Eitter, 
deacon  of  Pendleton  Church,  volunteered  to 
assist  in  the  organization  of  this  new  body,  which 
they  did.  The  new  Association  adopted  the 
Articles  of  Faith  held  by  the  Mother  Church,  ex- 
cepting that  they  recognized  feet-washing  as  set 
forth  in  the  13th  chapter  of  St.  John,  as  an  article 
of  faith.  This  w^as,  so  far  as  we  know,  the  first 
Association  in  all  Southeast  Missouri,  to  adopt 
an  article  of  faith  on  this  subject,  recognizing  it 
as  an  ordinance  of  the  Gospel.  However,  this 
was  the  opinion  held  by  the  ministers  and  most 
of  the  members  of  the  churches  of  the  Bethel 
Association,  from  which  these  churches  came, 
though  not  expressed  in  any  published  article  of 
faith,  so  far  as  we  ever  knew,  until  since  the 
civil  war.  Two  or  three  other  Associations,  in- 
cluding the  Bethel,  have  since  done  so,  as  will  be 
seen  in  their  respective  chapters. 

The  churches  of  the  Central  Missouri  Associa- 
tion were  principally  located  in  the  counties  of 
Iron,  Dent,  Reynolds  and  Washington,  and  were 
more  or  less  intermixed  with  the  churches  of. 
Bethel  and  Franklin  Associations.  The  most  im- 
portant epoch  in  the  history  of  this  body  was  in 
the  years  of  1867  and  1868.  In  the  year  1867 
it  had  13  churches,  reporting  165  baptisms.      Its 


172  THE   BAPTISTS   O^ 

leading  ministers  up  to  this  time  were  Elders 
Nelson  Adams,  Isaac  Lane,  David  Adams,  Clanos 
Adams,  G.  W.  Bay  and  P.  McCracken.  The 
total  membership  for  this  year  was  528.  At  this 
session  several  churches  were  said  to  be  dismissed 
to  form  a  new  Association  of  the  Ministers  of 
Central  Missouri.  Nelson  Adams,  among  its  old- 
est servants,  was  doubtless  among  the  most  in- 
fluential in  the  whole  body.  The  others,  named 
Adams,  were  his  sons,  and,  so  far  as  we  know, 
they  were  faithful  to  their  charges,  as  were  prob- 
ably the  rest  of  the  ministers  of  this  Association. 
This  body  has  never  taken  any,  or  at  least 
much,  interest  in  the  missionary  or  other  progres- 
sive work.  As  it  is  natural,  sometimes,  among 
many  large  families  to  find  some  drones,  so  is  it 
with  some  of  the  Associations  of  Southeast  Mis- 
souri, where,  w^e  are  sorry  to  say,  there  are  some 
drones. 

THE    CONCORD   ASSOCIATION. 

The  tenth  Association  orojanized  in  Southeast 
Missouri  was  the  Concord.  It  was  a  daughter  of 
the  Central  Missouri,  mentioned  in  the  report  of 
this  chapter,  and  was  organized  with  four 
churches  represented,  which  had  been  dismissed 
from  the  Central  Missouri  at  its  session  in  1867. 
The  Concord  was  organized  in  December  of  the 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  1  73 

same  year.  The  churches  were  Bethlehem,  Big 
Creek,  Mt.  Ziou  and  Pilgrim's  Kest.  The  Arti- 
cles of  Faith  adopted  were  the  same  as  held  by 
its  mother  Association,  It  is  situated  in  the 
counties  of  Madison,  Iron  and  parts  of  Reynolds 
and  shannon.  Its  name  is  the  Concord  Associa- 
tion of  United  Baptists.  The  reader  will  observe 
this  term,  United  Baptists  is  a  general  term 
among  Baptists  in  Southeast  Missouri.  It  is  a 
distinguishing  title  of  the  Bethel  Association — 
the  mother  of  all  the  Associations  in  Southeast 
Missouri — and  many  of  us  are  proud  of  it,  as  it 
carries  us  back  to  our  Virginia  fathers,  who  have 
proven  themselves  a  progressive  missionary  peo- 
ple, carrying  out  the  spirit  of  the  English  Baptist 
fathers,  from  whom  they  have  continued  the  ex- 
ample of  progressive  missionary  work. 

The  second  session  of  this  body  was  held  with 
the  old  Big  Creek  Church,  mentioned  in  the 
chapter  on  the  Bethel  Association,  in  October, 
1869.     One  church  was  admitted  this  session. 

This  Association  has  had  some  curious  experi- 
ences in  matters  of  correspondence  with  other 
Associations.  At  its  first  session  it  opened  cor- 
respondence with  the  St.  Francois  and  Franklin 
Associations,  and  also  offered  correspondence 
with  the  Bethel,  its  grandmother,  but  was  refused 


174  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

on  the  orround  that  the  Concord  was  an  illeojal 
organization,  because  some  of  its  churches  had 
not  obtained  letters  of  dismission  from  their 
mother  Association,  the  Central  Missouri,  which 
then  had  correspondence  with  the  Bethel,  its 
grandmother. 

Thus  was  the  faithfulness  of  a  mother  Associa- 
tion manifested  in  preserving  Baptist  usage  in 
the  organization  growing  out  of  another.  Its 
churches  should  petition  their  mother  Association 
for  dismission  by  letter  at  a  regular  session  for 
such  purpose,  and  if  granted,  then  proceed  to  or- 
ganize. 

The  correspondence  with  the  St.  Francois  and 
Franklin  Associations  was  soon  lost  or  dropped, 
as  we  see  by  an  action  taken  at  its  second  session. 
Correspondence  with  the  Franklin  was  dropped 
because  it  had  no  article  of  faith  on  the  subject 
of  feet-washing.  The  reader  will  be  amused  to 
know  that  the  Bethel,  its  grandmother,  had  no 
articles  of  this  kind,  prior  to  the  organization  of 
the  Concord.  The  St.  Francois  stopped  its  cor- 
respondence on  account  of  these  illegal  proceed- 
ings. 

But  the  Concord  still  lives,  and  here  are  some 
more  of  its  proceedings  :  At  the  session  in  1872, 
we  find  the  following :     On  motion,  that  the  As- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  175 

sociation  withdraw  from  the  Mt.  Nebo  Church 
for  violating  United  Baptist  faith.  Now,  whether 
the  church  named  had  violated  United  Baptist 
faith  in  general,  or  any  particular  article,  is  not 
stated,  which  should  have  been  in  justice  to  the 
accused  church.  Second,  that  we  prefer  charges 
against  Elder  A.  J.  Vance,  and,  upon  authority 
of  the  evidence  in  the  case,  declare  his  creden- 
tials void,  until  he  acquits  himself  of  the  charges. 
Now,  they  may  have  had,  positive  reasons 
for  grave  charges  against  Elder  Vance ;  but 
in  justice  to  him  and  the  cause,  as  in  the  case  of 
the  church  above  mentioned,  they  should  have 
specified  the  charges,  as  no  court,  ecclesiastic  or 
otherwise,  does  less. 

In  the  year  of  1885,  this  Association  numbered 
18  churches,  6  ordained  ministers,  and  reported 
15  baptisms,  with  a  total  membership  of  400 : 
but  no  Sabbath-schools  or  otherwise  practical 
Christian  work,  are  mentioned,  as  we  have  so  far 
seen,  in  the  work  of  this  body. 


176  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  CHARLESTON  AND  NEW  MADRID    ASSOCIATIONS. 
THE  CHARLESTON  ASSOCIATION. 

This  Association  is  the  eleventh  Association  of 
the  regular  order  of  Baptists  in  Southeast  Mis- 
souri. It  was  organized  in  the  year  of  1876,  in 
Scott  county.  The  churches  forming  this  Asso- 
ciation were  from  the  Cape  Girardeau  Associa- 
tion— the  number  is  not  given — and  had  been  dis- 
missed the  same  year  to  form  a  new  Association 
for  convenience.  The  reader  may  understand 
the  order  of  this  Association  by  the  first  and  sec- 
ond articles  of  its  constitution,  which  is  here 
given.  **1.  This  Association  shall  be  called  the 
Charleston  Baptist  Association,  and  shall  be 
auxilliary  to  the  Baptist  General  Association  of 
Missouri.  2.  The  object  of  this  Association 
shall  be  to  promote  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel 
and  the  spread  of  Divine  truth  in  our  bounds." 
From  these  facts  they  start  with  all  the  possibil- 
ity of  a  progressive  missionary  body.  They 
adopted  the  articles  of  faith  held  in  general  by 
all  missionary  Baptists. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  177 

From  the  Minutes  of  the  fifth  animal  session 
now  before  us,  we  gather  the  following  named 
churches  and  communities:  Concord,  Bethany, 
Big  Prairie,  Blodgett,  DiehL^tadt,  Hopewell, 
Morley,  Mt.  Moriah,  New  Hope,  New  Provi- 
dence, Rich  woods  and  Sylvan,  now  called  Oran, 
with  a  total  membership  of  309  members.  We 
observe  that  the  Charleston  Church,  which  is  one 
of  the  largest  and  most  flourishing  churches  of 
the  body,  was  not  on  the  list  of  1882.  The  min- 
isters present  were  I.  E.  Anderson,  J.  M.  Pres- 
son,  W.  B.  Richnrdson,  T.  Dickerson,  W.  R. 
Rainbolt,  W.  C.  Darby,  and  J.  M.  Allen.  They 
reported  56  baptisms  this  year.  By  the  Consti- 
tution the  following  Committees  were  formed  to 
report  annually:  On  Sunday-schools,  Finance, 
the  State  of  the  Churches,  Home  Missions  and 
Religious  Literature. 

This  Association  occupies  an  important  field  in 
the  counties  of  Scott  and  Mississippi,  through 
which,  at  this  time,  there  are  raih'oads  runnin^y 
north  and  south,  east  and  west,  establishing  along 
their  lines  many  railroad  towns,  which  are  of 
growing  importance  to  the  entire  field,  not  only 
as  shipping  points  for  the  valuable  products 
raised  from  the  rich,  alluvial  soil,  through  which 
these  railroads  run,  but  they  constitute  centres 


178  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

of  inliuence,  education  and  wealth.  We  doubt 
not  these  brethren  will  turn  all  this  to  good 
account  in  due  time. 

As  many  of  the  churches  have  been  mentioned 
in  connection  with  the  Cape  Girardeau  Associa- 
tion, we  will  not  detain  the  reader  any  farther. 
We  have  no  special  information  regarding  the  life 
work  of  their  ministers,  but  they  seem  to  be  a 
faithful,  consecrated  band  of  workers. 

THE  NEW  MADRID  ASSOCIATION. 

This  is  the  twelfth  and  latest  organized  mis- 
sionary body  of  the  kind  in  Souteast  Missouri. 
It  was  organized  in  1883  ;  consequently  but  little 
can  be  given  concerning  it  or  its  churches.  We 
are  not  informed  as  to  w4iat  church  or  place  it 
was  organized.  Bro.  T.  Hogan,  of  New  Madrid, 
was  Moderator.  Six  churches  were  represented, 
with  ten  ordained  ministers.  Thirty-six  baptisms 
were  reported  at  the  first  annual  meeting,  with  a 
total  membership  of  274.  This  new  body  occu- 
pies an  important  field  in  the  vicinity  of  New 
Madrid,  New  Madrid  count}^  one  of  the  oldest 
settled  communities  in  Southeast  Missouri,  in 
which  some  of  our  most  worthy  Baptist  pioneers 
have  lived.  Through  this  new  organization,  we 
trust  this  field  will  be  fully  occupied  and 
thoroughly  cultivated. 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  179 

ELDER  I.  E.  ANDERSON. 

As  one  worthy  of  special  mention  in  connection 
with  the  early  work  of  the  Charleston  Associa- 
tion, we  mention  this  venerable  servant  of  Christ. 
Bro.  Anderson  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  in 
Washington  county,  of  that  State,  June  1st,  1820. 
His  parents  died  wlien  he  was  but  a  child  ;  conse- 
quently he  received  but  little  education,  and  was 
therefore  brought  up  as  a  son  of  toil  and  hard- 
ship. In  1845,  under  the  ministry  of  Elder  John 
Baldwin  he  was  converted  to  Christ  at  Cairo, 
III.  From  here  he  went  to  Ballard  county,  Kv., 
and  became  a  member  of  tho  North  Ballard  Bap- 
tist Church,  by  order  of  which  church  he  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1847.  From  there  he  went 
to  Pulaski  county.  111.,  and  united  with  the Shiloh 
Baptist  Church.  By  the  order  of  this  church  he 
was  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  Gospel  min- 
istry in  the  year  1852.  He  came  to  Missouri  in 
1859,  and  settled  in  Scott  county,  where  he  re- 
sided until  186 1,  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  he 
volunteered  in  the  Southern  army,  acquitting 
himself  as  an  honorable  soldier  to  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  then  returned  home  only  to  find  him- 
self completely  broken  down.  For  a  time  he 
lived  elsewhere,  and  gathered  means  as  best  he 
could  until  1877,  when  he  returned  again  for  per- 


lyO  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

mauent  settlement  in  Scott  county,  where  he  has 
smce  resided. 

We  have  mentioned  that  he  had  no  education, 
and  true  it  was  under  the  circumstances.  But 
having  a  strong  intellect  and  a  decided  will,  when 
he  came  to  manhood's  estate,  he  learned  to  read, 
and  with  faithful  application  of  mind  and  heart 
he  became  so  studi<  us  that  now,  in  his  67th year, 
he  stands  before  his  brethren  of  the  Charleston 
Association  as  one  of  their  strongest  ministers, 
worthy  and  respected.  He  was  the  first  and  sec- 
ond Moderator  of  that  body,  having  built  up  seven 
of  its  churches.  He  was  principal  in  the  ordina- 
tion of  three  of  its  ministers.  Such  has  been  the 
life  of  one  whose  faith  has  been  well  tried  and  not 
found  wanting  in  either  doctrine,  precept  or 
example. 


SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI.  181 


CHAPTER  XI. 


GENERAL  BAPTISTS,  OR  FREEWILLS  ;   ALSO  INCLUD- 
ING A  SKETCH  ON  CAMPBELLISM. 

The  Liberty  Association  of  General  Baptists, 
or  Freewills,  in  Southeast  Missouri,  was  organ- 
ized in  the  year  of  1861 ;  we  are  not  informed  as 
to  the  church  or  place.  It  is  known  that  the  Hog 
Creek  Church,  now  called  Mt.  Zion,  and  other 
churches  in  Bollinger  and  adjoining  counties — 
which  belong  to  the  St.  Francois,  and  probably 
some  other  associations  of  the  regular  order  of 
Baptists — were  led  into  Freewillisni  through  the 
influence  of  one  John  D.  Bobbins,  a  leading  min- 
ister of  the  St.  Francois  Association.  He  had 
embraced  the  Freewill  sentiment  in  about  the 
year  1860,  and  publicly  advocated  the  same  ;  for 
this  he  was  withdrawn  from  the  St.  Francois 
Association  the  same  year, — the  Regular  Order 
of  Baptists  declaring  him  out  of  order,  and  as 
such,  his  credentials  were  null  and  void.  He 
was  published  in  the  Minutes  of  1861  as  not  in 
order  as  a  minister  of  the  Baptist  denomination. 
But  the  Hog  Creek,  or  Mt.  Zion  Church  as  it  is 


182  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

now  called,  and  j^robably  a  few  others  which  he 
had  led  into  this  ism  (so  we  are  informed)  made 
a  pretentious  move  of  legalizing  his  credentials 
then  null  and  void  received  from  the  reofular 
order  of  Baptists,  to  suit  the  same,  which  the 
reader  will  see  was  a  great  inconsistencj^  as  will 
appear  from  their  faith^and  practice — the  leading 
sentiments  of  which  we  here  give  a  synopsis  : 

In  the  first  place,  the  reader  will  observe  that 
if  one  did  go  out  from  the  regular  order  of  Bap- 
tists, his  articles  of  faith  do  not  differ  materi- 
ally, excepting  in  a  few  important  points.  For 
the  information  of  those  Avhom  it  may  concern, 
we  will  here  give  the  12th  and  13th  articles  of 
their  faith,  which  demonstrates  the  main  differ- 
ence. (See  Articles  of  Faith,  in  Minutes  of  Oc- 
tober, 1885.) 

ARTICLES   OF   FAITH    OF    THE    FREEWILL   BAPTISTS. 

^'Article  12. — AVe  believe  that  the  Lord  elesus 
Christ  is  the  door  unto  the  Church,  and  that  bap- 
tism is  a  duty  in  answer  to  a  good  conscience. 

'* Article  13. — We  believe  that  the  Lord's  peo- 
ple are  one  in  Him,  therefore  should  be  one  at 
His  Table." 

Li  the  seventh  article  of  their  faith,  we  find 
that  Baptism,  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  the  Wash- 
ing of  Feet,    are   held   as    ordinances    of  Jesus 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOtRT.  183 

Christ,  appointed  in  the  Church,  and  none  but 
true  believers  are  the  proper  subjects  ;  and  that 
the  only  proper  mode  of  baptism  is  immersion. 

From  this,  it  is  clear  to  the  eyes  of  sound 
reason  and  common  sense  that  this  seventh  article 
completely  upsets  the  12th  and  13th,  mentioned 
above,  for  the  simple  reason  that  if  none  but 
true  believers  are  to  partake  of  the  benefits  of 
these  ordinances  appointed  by  the  church  (espec- 
ially if  immersion  is  the  only  proper  mode  of 
baptism  by  which  the  answer  of  a  good  conscience 
is  obtained),  how  is  it  that  the  unimmersed 
Pedoes  can  obtain  an  answer  to  a  good  con- 
science, and,  therefore,  bo  recognized  as  either 
true  believers  or  proper  subjects  for  the  Lord's 
Table  in  the  Church  of  Christ?  It  is  certain  that 
light  is  wanting  here.  But  if  the  Lord's  people 
are  one  in  Christ,  without  regard  to  the  senti- 
ment of  the  seventh  article,  the  Church  of  Christ, 
with  all  the  ordinances  given  to  it  by  Him,  is 
forever  set  aside,  and  in  truth,  amounts  to  noth- 
ing according  to  this  practice. 

Their  Rule  of  Government,  as  an  Association 
is  much  the  same  as  that  held  by  the  Baptists  in 
general,  except  that  their  deacons  and  licensed 
preachers  have  the  right  to  baptize  in  the  absence 
of  the  pastor. 


184  THE   BAPTISTS    OF 

From  the  Minutes  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Annual 
Meeting  of  this  body,  we  gather  the  followinor 
statistics :  Thirteen  churches  were  reported  on 
the  list,  with  ten  ordanied  ministers  and  492 
communicants. 

They  seem  to  take  but  little  or  no  interest  in 
educational  or  missionary  enterprises  ;  but  in  jus- 
tice to  them,  the  following  items  may  be  given  : 

Resolved,  That  each  male  member  donate  from 
one  to  ten  dollars  for  the  benefit  of  broken  down 
ministers,  widows  and  orphans.  2.  That  it  is 
the  duty  of  members  to  urge  the  Sabbath-school 
cause,  and  organize  the  same  in  their  churches. 
3  That  it  is  the  duty  of  members  to  hold  family 
prayer  in  their  families.  4.  That  it  is  not  be- 
coming a  church  member  to  visit  saloons  and  par- 
ticipate therein. 

CORRESPONDENCE . 

This  body  holds  correspondence  with  the  fol- 
lowing Associations  of  General  Baptists  :  New 
Liberty,  West  Liberty,  and  Tennessee  Associa- 
tions. The  West  Liberty  Association  is  located 
in  Wayne  county,  Mo.  No  statement  is  made  as 
to  the  location  of  New  Liberty  nor  the  Ten- 
nessee ;  neither  have  we  any  statistics  respect- 
ing these  bodies.  The  West  Liberty,  in  Wayne 
county,  however,  is  of  quite  late  origin. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  185 

In  the  <*Missouri  Baptist  History,''  by  Bro. 
R.  S.  Duncan,  mention  is  made  of  what  is  called 
the  Missouri  Association  of  General  Baptists,  or- 
ganized in  1866,  and  situated  in  Ozark  county, 
Missouri,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  state. 
Article  11  of  their  Constitution  provides  that  the 
Association  possess  appellate  jurisdiction  in  all 
matters  of  difficulty  arising  in  the  churches.  In 
1870  it  had  nine  churches,  352  communicants, 
and  2  ministers.  Also,  mention  is  made  of  what 
is  called  Big  Creek  Association  of  Freewill  Bap- 
tists, situated  in  Texas  and  adjoining  counties. 

They  hold  baptism  to  be  immersion,  the  Lord's 
Supper  to  be  administered  to  all  true  believers, 
the  washing  of  the  saints'  feet  to  be  an  ordinance. 
They  are  iv\x\j  free-ioilled,  as  the  twelfth  article 
of  their  faith  declares  :  *'We  believe  that  the  will 
of  man  is  free,  irresistible,  controlled  by  no  other 
power,  it  being  a  self-controlling  power,"  and 
truly  this  is  Freewillism. 

In  addition  to  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Asso- 
ciation they  hold  quarterly  meetings,  somewhat 
after  the  Methodist  style.  This  body  was  organ- 
ized in  1870  or  1871.  At  its  second  session  held 
in  1872  it  numbered  18  churches,  with  502  com- 
municants. Of  its  ministers  nothing  is  said,  ex- 
cepting of  the  evangelist,  for  1872,  Elder  B.   C. 


18G  THE   BAI>TISTS   OF 

SteveiLs,  whose  report  we  give  as  follows: 

Miles  travelled,  1,128;  families  visited,  GO; 
sermons  preached,  53;  ministers  ordained,  three, 
and  four  deacons  ;  constituted  one  church,  and 
administered  the  Lord's  Supper  four  times. 

Expenses  : — Expense  for  fare,  75  cents  ;  for 
horse-shoeing,  $3.00;  money  received,  $1.10: 
f>;oods,  one  handkerchief,  15  cents,  and  two  pieces 
of  tlat  tobacco,  10  cents. 

If  it  was  not  that  this  report  is  a  step  in  ad- 
vance of  the  Freewills  or  General  Baptists  of 
Southeast  Missouri,  we  would  have  a  great  deli- 
cacy in  giving  it  mention  in  these  sketches  ;  it 
having  no  relation  to  the  Regular  Order  of  Bap- 
tists, it  cannot  be  regarded  as  a  Baptist  institn- 
tion. 

SKETCH  OF  CAMPBELLISM. 

There  is  a  sect  calling  themselves  Christians,  or 
Disciples,  properly  known  as  Campbellites.  The 
founder  and  author  of  this  new  reformation  was 
one  Alexander  Campbell,  of  Bethany  College, 
Kentucky.  Several  organizations  of  this  society 
may  be  found  in  Southeast  Missouri.  They  hold 
to  immersion  for  baptism,  and  are  charged  with 
teaching  the  doctrine  of  baptismal  regeneration, 
which  secures  pardon  and  remission  of  sins  to 
those  Avho  forsake  their  sins,  believing   and  con- 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  187 

fessing  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God.  The 
fair  statement  is,  that  the  person  forsaking  their 
sins,  believing  and  confessinor  that  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  Son  of  God,  can,  by  obedience  to  this  com- 
mand, secure  pardon  and  remission  of  sins,  with- 
out which  obedience  there  is  no  promise.  So  it 
is  properly  remission  of  sin  by  obedience  to 
baptism,  and  not  remission  by  baptism,  as  is 
charored.  But  as  this  sentiment  is  about  as 
tenable  as  the  Romish  heresy  of  baptismal  re- 
generation taught  by  Catholic  priests,  that,  b}^ 
confession,  penance,  prayers,  and  the  sacrament 
of  baptism,  pardon,  and  remission  of  sins  are 
obtained,  we  cmnot  give  it  sanction  in  these 
sketches  as  a  Baptist  institution ;  especially  as 
Alexander  Campbell  and  his  adherents  were  with- 
drawn from  th9  Baptist  denomination,  as  being 
in  error  in  this  sentiment  which  they  would  not 
renounce. 


188  THE    BAPTISTS   CF 


CHAPTER  XII. 


GENERAL     MISCELLANEOUS     MATTERS. THE    TONG 

FAMILY. WILLIAM  TONG. 

The  reader  will  excuse  this  sketch  as  this  given 
in  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  many  who  have 
thought  it  but  fitting  that  a  short  historical 
sketch  of  this,  one  among  the  largest  families  of 
North  America,  and  one  which  has  borne  a  special 
part,  morally,  socially  and  politically,  in  the 
pioneer  work  of  Southeast  Missouri,  from  the 
very  earliest  settlements  down  to  the  present 
time.  The  patriarch  of  the  Tong  family  was 
William  Tong,  a  native  of  Maryland,  born  near 
the  city  of  Baltimore,  August  9th,  1756.  He 
received  only  a  common  education,  such  as  could 
be  obtained  at  the  common  schools  of  the  times. 
At  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  entered  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country  as  a  volunteer  soldier  at  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Amid 
the  hardships  and  trying  circumstances  common 
to  all  the  American  soldiers  of  that  war,  he  sur- 
vived the  seven  years  struggle — taking  a  part  in 
the  battle  of  Brandy  wine   and  other   battles,  re- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  189 

turning  home  at  last  to  enjoy,  for  many  years, 
the  liberty  he  had  fought  so  hard  to  secure  to  his 
country. 

My  grandfather  was  married  twice,  by  which 
two  unions  twenty-six  children  were  born  to  him, 
thirteen  sons  and  thirteen  daughters  whom  he 
raised  to  be  men  and  woman.  Each  wife  had 
thirteen  children.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Eli- 
nor Ford;  the  second,  Miss  Elizabeth  Thomas; 
both  were  from  his  native  State.  Grandfather 
served  as  an  apprentice  at  the  shoe-maker's  trade, 
in  which  profession  he  gained  a  fine  reputation. 
Politically  he  was  a  Jeffersonian,  and  was  a 
gifted  and  eloquent  talker,  which  gift  seems  to 
descend  to  his  entire  posterity  ;  for  if  any  person 
ever  met  a  Tong,  and  didn't  meet  a  talker,  we 
have  that  fact  to  learn. 

A  few  years  after  his  second  marriage  he  left 
his  native  State  for  the  great  West  coming  by 
way  of  Kentucky,  in  which  State  he  stopped  for 
a  time  and  settled  in  what  is  called  the  New  Pur- 
chase ;  but  by  reason  of  a  defective  title  to  his 
land  claim,  he  left  there  and  came  to  the  Terri- 
tory  of  Missouri  in  the  year  of  1820,  sixty-seven 
years  ago,  and  settled  on  Little  St.  Francois 
River,  near  St.  Michael,  now  Fredericktown, 
county-seat     of    Madison   county,   Missouri,   in 


190  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

which  community  he  spent  the  residue  of  his  life, 
bringing  up  his  family,  and  as  a  pioneer  citizen 
bearing  his  part,  morally,  politically,  and 
socially  in  building  up  the  common-wealth  of  his 
newly  adopted  State,  which  was  then  admitted 
into  the  Union — 1821.  The  religion  of  the 
family  was  of  the  Episcopalian  order,  but  after 
coming  AYest,  they,  for  the  most  part,  identified 
themselves  with  the  Southern  Methodist  Church. 
After  living  to  the  great  age  of  ninety-one 
years,  grandfather  went  to  visit  some  of  his  chil- 
dren living  in  Illinois,  and  there  died,  February 
8th,  1848,  and  was  laid  to  rest  as  a  faithful  sol- 
dier and  citizen  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

HENRY  DAVEDGE  TONG. 

Henry  Davedge,  called  Henry  D.  Tong,  my 
father,  was  the  eleventh  of  thirteen  sons,  and 
was  the  only  one  who  became  a  Baptist ;  not- 
withstanding that  during  the  stay  of  the  family 
in  Kentucky,  a  son  was  born  whom  the}'  called 
John  Baptist  Tong,  on  account  of  the  following 
amusing  circumstance  which  took  place  while  the 
family  was  on  the  road  from  Maryland  to  Ken- 
tucky. The  carriage  in  which  grandmother  and 
some  of  the  smaller  children  were  riding  was  up- 
set while  crossing  a  small  river,  and  all  went 
under.     Strong  help  being  at  hand,    they  were 


SOUTHEAST   3IISS0URI.  191 

soon  rescued,  and  no  harm  done  except  that  all 
had  received  a  good  duckmg.  In  a  few  weeks 
after  they  reached  Kentucky  this  son  was  born, 
and  when  it  came  to  giving  the  name,  the  old 
nurse,  a  colored  woman  belonging  to  the  family, 
said:  "I  has  de  naming  ob  dat  boy."  *'And 
what  is  it?"  said  one.  *«Why,  we  will  call  him 
John  Baptist,  after  de  providence  ob  de  Lord,  at 
de  crossing  ob  dat  big  river,  where  dey  all  got 
ducked  so."  The  name  was  consented  to,  and 
he  was  ever  after  called  John  Baptist  Tong. 

I  win  not  detain  the  reader  more  than  to  state 
that  as  the  descendents  of  this  family  were  well 
adapted  to  pioneer  life,  they  went  forth  from 
their  old  home,  Madison  county,  scattering  among 
the  several  states  and  territories  of  the  oreat 
West  as  farmers,  mechanics,  merchants,  mill- 
builders,  and  miners,  bearing  their  parts  in 
opening  up  the  resources  of  the  country  in  which 
they  lived.  I  am  thankful  to  say,  as  a  general 
rule,  they  maintained  for  good  government, 
education,  morality  and  religion,  without  which 
no  country  can  long  exist. 

As  mentioned  elsewhere,  my  father,  Henrj^  D. 
Tong,  was  the  only  one  of  the  family  who  united 
with  the  Baptists.  He  professed  faith  in  Christ 
when  about  eighteen  years  of  age  and  was  bap- 


192  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 

tized  into  the  fellowship  of  the  Providence  Bap- 
tist Church,  near  Fredericktown,  by  the  beloved 
Win.  Polk;  from  this  time  on  till  the  close  of  his 
life,  he  would  pray  in  public  and  exhort  sinners 
to  repentance.  He  died  in  Ripley  county,  in 
18fi5,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  a  cemetery  on 
Buffalo  Creek,  a  few  miles  west  of  Doniphan, 
county-seat  of  Ripley  county.  He  was  twice 
married  ;  first,  to  Miss  Minerva  Allen,  of  Madison 
county ;  second,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Woods,  of 
St.  Francois  county.  By  these  two  unions, 
eleven  children  were  born  to  hira,  the  writer  being 
the  only  child  by  the  first  marriage. 

A  young  preacher  once  asked  me  what  he 
should  do  to  make  a  man  of  himself  and  honor 
God.  I  said,  as  I  want  to  say  here  to  all  young- 
preachers  : 

* 'Cross  the  Alps  a  few  times  amidst  the  wintry 
blasts  of  hardships,  poverty  and  disappointments, 
and  you  will  return  a  polished  shaft,  having  sub- 
dued all  your  evil  passions — selfishness,  bigotry 
and  pride ;  with  this  grand  experience  you  will 
become  a  man  and  honor  God  and  the  cause  as 
doubtless  you  would  not  under  any  other  train- 
ing.    At  least  this  is  my  experience." 

AN  ANECDOTE. 

I  once  knew  a  boy,  the  son  of  a  minister,  who 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  193 

would  gather  his  playfellows,  boys  and  gu*ls, 
together  in  the  shady  nooks  of  the  woods  and 
preach  to  them  occasionally.  They  called  him 
the  boy  preacher.  One  pleasant  summer  even- 
ing when  this  "boy  preacher"  was  about  thirteen 
years  old,  he  was  holdino^  a  meeting  for  the  bo3^s 
and  skirls  of  his  neighborhood  ;  and  after  he  had 
ended  his  discourse,  thinking  that  the  meeting- 
was  not  finished  without  giving  an  opportunity 
* 'for  joiners  to  join  the  Baptist  church,"  as  he 
called  it,  he  gave  the  invitation  as  usual,  when  a 
girl  about  his  own  age  came  forward,  and  to 
carry  out  the  fun  demanded  baptism.  This  was 
consented  to  by  all.  They  went  to  a  creek  near 
by  and  both  went  down  into  the  water.  The  girl, 
being  a  Methodist,  had  never  seen  any  one  im- 
mersed; the  boy,  coming  from  a  Baptist  family, 
had  never  seen  any  one  sprinkled.  Of  course 
she  thought  he  would  only  throw  water  in  her. 
face ;  and  the  reader  may  imagine  her  surprise 
upon  being  plunged  to  the  bottom  of  the  water, 
making  a  complete  immersion.  This  circum- 
stance occurred  a  few  miles  south  of  where  the 
city  of  Ironton  now  stands.  The  year  folio  wing- 
that  boy  professed  faith  in  Christ,  then  in  his 
fourteenth  year,  and  four  years  after,  united  with 
the  Baptists  and  commenced  preaching.     Having 


194  THE   BAPTISTS   OF 

left  that  community,  he  saw  his  candidate  no 
more  for  fifteen  years.  When  he  met  her  again, 
a  widowed  mother  and  an  humble  Christian,  she 
said  to  him,  *'I  guess  you  haven't  forgot  our  bap- 
tismal scene?"  *'No,"  said  the  boy.  *'Well," 
continued  the  lady,  with  tears  rolling  down  her 
cheeks,  <'I  hope  we  both  understand  it  all  right 
now;  since  that  time  I  professed  a  hope,  and 
have  long  since  been  a  Baptist  right,  and  I*m 
told  you  have  been  a  Baptist  minister  fifteen 
years."     He  answered,  "Yes  ma'am." 

IMPORTANT   ITEMS   OF   THE    SEVEN    DISPENSATIONS, 

OR   AGES   OF   THE    WORLD. THE   FIRST 

AGE    OF   THE    WORLD. 

The  first  age  of  the  world,  from  Adam  to 
Noah,  and  the  time  of  the  flood,  is  1856  years. 
In  the  beginning  of  this  age,  God  created  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,  after  which  man  was 
created  in  God's  own  image.  Man  then  falls 
from  his  first  state,  but  is  promised  a  Savior 
from  the  seed  of  the  woman.  After  Adam  and 
Eve  were  cast  out  of  Paradise,  children  were 
born  to  them.  From  this  time,  mankind  began 
to  multiply  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  As  man 
was  now  sinful,  his  heart  was  set  to  do  evil  con- 
tinually, for  which  God  destroyed  the  world  by 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  195 

water,   which  came  upon  the  earth   when  Noah 
was  six  hundred  years  old. 

THE    SECOND   AGE    OF    THE    WOKLD. 

The  floods  cease,  and  Noah,  with  his  family 
and  all  the  creatures  he  carried  with  him,  come 
out  of  the  ark.  Noah  offers  the  first  burnt- 
offering  to  God  that  was  made  after  the  flood. 
God  then  makes  a  covenant  with  Noah  and  his 
seed,  promising  to  never  again  destroy  the  world 
by  water.  In  token  of  this  covenant,  he  places 
a  rainbow  in  the  clouds.  From  the  flood  of 
Noah  unto  Abraham's  departure  from  Chaldea 
were  four  hundred  and  twenty -two  years  and  ten 
days. 

THE  THIRD  AGE  OF  THE  WORLD. 

From  the  departure  of  Abraham,  from  Ur  in 
Chaldea,  unto  the  departing  of  the  children  of 
Israel  was  four  hundred  and  thirty  years.  In 
this  age,  when  Abraham  was  seventy-five  years 
old,  God  commanded  him  to  enter  upon  the  Land 
of  Canaan,  which  God  had  promised  to  give  unto 
his  seed  for  a  possession ;  and  that  in  his  seed, 
which  was  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  all  the  fami- 
lies of  the  age  should  be  blessed. 

THE  FOURTH  AGE  OF  THE  WORLD. 

This  was  the  period  when  the  children  of  Irsrael 
departed  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt — four  huu- 


196  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 

dred  and  thirty  years  from  the  time  of  the  first 
pilgrimage  of  their  ancestors  (Jacob  and  his 
family),  when  they  went  into  Egypt  in  conse- 
quence of  the  famine  in  Canaan.  Upon  the  14th 
day  of  the  first  month,  which  was  May,  the  Pass- 
over was  instituted,  and  upon  the  15th  of  the 
same  month,  at  midnight,  the  first-born  of  Egypt 
were  all  slain.  Pharoah  makes  haste  to  send  the 
children  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt,  being  six  hun- 
dred thousand  on  foot,  men  besides  children. 
They  came  to  the  Red  Sea,  which  divided,  and 
they  crossed  over  on  dry  land.  Pharoah  and  his 
host,  in  pursuing  them,  was  overthrown  by  the 
waters  coming  together  again.  On  Mount  Sinai, 
in  the  wilderness,  the  first  national  law  given  to 
mankind  was  given  to  the  children  of  Israel. 
This  law  was  written  by  the  finger  of  God  on 
tables  of  stone. 

THE    FIFTH    AGE    OF   THE    WORLD. 

Solomon  lays  the  foundation  of  the  temple  in 
the  forty-eighth  year  after  the  departure  of  the 
children  of  Israel  out  of  Egypt.  In  this  age,  the 
children  of  Israel  departing  from  the  law  of  God 
and  falling  into  sin,  were  carried  captives  into 
Babylon  for  seventy  years. 

THE   SIXTH   AGE   OF   THE   AVORLD. 

Nebuchadnezzar,   proud  of  his   victories  over 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  197 

Egypt  and  his  conquests  over  the  Jews  and  the 
people  of  other  countries,  and  boastful  of  the 
magnificence  of  his  buildings,  became  distracted 
and  was  driven  from  the  society  of  man  to  spend 
seven  years  among  the  beasts  of  the  field,  after 
which  time  his  understanding  returns,  and  he 
humbly  acknowledges  the  power  of  Almight  God. 
Also,  Alexander  the  Great,  w^as  born  in  this  age, 
and  lived  to  be  the  conqueror  of  the  world,  over 
which  he  reigned  as  monarch  six  years  and  ten 
months,  when  he  died  from  the  use  of  strong 
drink.  In  this  age  was  the  empire  of  the  Roman 
Caesars,  forty-nine  years  before  Christ.  This 
was  the  ruling  power  when  Jesus  came  into  the 
world.  At  the  close  of  this  age,  John  the  Bap- 
tist was  born,  six  months  before  Christ. 

THE   SEVENTH   AGE   OF   THE   W^ORLD. 

This  age  began  with  the  birth  of  Christ,  the 
Savior  of  mankind,  who,  as  it  is  said,  in  the  full- 
ness of  time,  was  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  at 
Bethlehem,  called  the  City  of  David. 

When  He  was  about  twelve  years  of  age,  he 
began  His  public  ministry,  and  when  about  thirty 
years  old,  he  was  baptized  of  John  in  Jordan, 
after  which  he  commenced  to  preach  His  own 
ever-living  Gospel — the  Gospel  of  the  kingdom 
of  Heaven,   and   established    His   own   Church, 


198  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

which  was  to  stand  to  the  end  of  time.  For  the 
redemption  of  the  world,  he  suffered  and  died 
under  the  reign  of  Pontius  Pilate,  Governor  of 
Judea  ;  was  buried  and  rose  again  the  third  morn- 
ing; forty  days  after  His  resurrection,  He 
ascended  to  Heaven,  having  commissioned  His 
disciples  to  *»go  teach  all  nations,  beginning  at 
Jerusalem,"  etc.,  etc.  This  put  an  end  to  all 
legal  sacrifices  under  the  law  of  Moses,  which 
prefigured  this  great  event  and  established  forever 
the  Gospel  Dispensation, — the  Seventh  Age,  or 
last  dispensation  of  time,  in  which  dispensation 
we  now  live,  and  which  has  now  reached  1886 
years  A.  D.  As  coming  events  are  casting  their 
shadows  before  us,  what  I  say  unto  one,  I  say 
unto  all,  Watch,  for  we  know  not  when  the  Son 
of  Man  cometh. 

GENERAL  SUMMARY  OF  THE  SEVEN  AGES  OF  THE 

AVORLD  FROM  THE  CREATION  TO  THE  YEAR 

1887,  OF  THE  CHRISTIAN  ERA. 

First:  From  Adam  to  Noah  and  the  flood 
....  1856  years. 

Second:  From  the  flood  to  the  departure  of 
Abraham  from  Chaldea  ....  422  years  and  10 
days. 

Third:  From  Abraham's  doparture  from 
Chaldea  to  the  departure  of  the  children  of  Israel 


SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI.  199 

from  Canaan  to  Egypt 430  years. 

Fourth :  From  the  going  forth  of  the  Israel- 
ites from  Egypt  unto  the  first  building  of  the 
temple  ....  480  years. 

Fifth :  From  the  first  building  of  the  temple 
unto  the  captivity  of  Babylon,  are  ....  419 
years  and  6  months. 

Sixth :  From  the  rebuilding  of  the  temple  and 
City  of  Jerusalem  unto  the  coming  of  Christ,  are 
....  483  years. 

Seventh:  The  Christian  Era,  from  the  Birth 
of  Christ  to  December  25th,  1887,  making  the 
grand  total  from  the  Creation  of  the  World  to 
this  period  ....  5,980  years,  6  months  and  10 
days. 

The  estimated  population  of  the  earth  is 
1,462,000,000,  divided  as  follows:  Caucasian 
or  White,  600,000,000;  Mongolian,  600,000,000; 
African  or  Black,  250,000,000;  Copper  colored, 
12,000,000. 

These  peoples  are  estimated  to  speak  3,064 
languages,  and  to  profess  about  one  thousand  dif- 
ferent forms  of  religion. 

THE   RELIGIOUS   DIVISIONS   OF   THE   WORLD. 

According  to  Schem  the  statistics  are  as  follows  : 
All  Christian  denominations,  including  Baptists, 
Roman  Catholics   and  all,  number  388,000,000. 


200  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

According  to  the  Year  Book  of  1888,  the  num- 
ber of  Baptists  in  the  world  are  3,506,719 ;  in 
the  United  States,  2,917,315,  and  in  the  State  of 
Missouri,  117,654.  Leaving  out  the  Baptists, 
who  are  not  to  be  reckoned  as  Protestants,  and 
there  are  left  85,000,611  Protestants.  This 
leaves  a  total  of  those  still  in  heathenism, 
817,000,080. 

BAPTIST   CONTRIBUTIONS    AND    INVESTMENTS. 

The  amount  of  Baptist  contributions  for  benev- 
olent purposes  in  the  United  States  for  the  year 
1884  was  $6,996,105.  The  amount  invested  in 
Theological  Schools  in  the  United  States  was 
$3,832,505.  In  other  colleges  and  schools, 
$15,215,037,  making  a  total  of  $19,047,542. 

ANALYSIS  OF  THE    OLD    AND    NEW    TESTAMENT. 

Books  in  the  Old  Testament,  39;  chapters, 
929;  verses,  32,214;  words,  592,439;  letters, 
2,728,100.  Books  in  the  New  Testament,  27; 
chapters,  260;  verses,  7,959;  words,  181,253; 
letters,  838,380. 

The  middle  chapter  and  the  shortest  in  the 
Bible  is  the  117th  Psalm;  the  middle  verse  is 
Psalm  118:8.  The  middle  book  of  the  Old 
Testament  is  Proverbs;  the  middle  verse  is 
2  Chron.  20  :  17  ;  the  shortest  verse  is  1  Chron. 
1:1.     The  middle  book  in  the  New  Testament  is 


SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI.  201 

2  Thessaloiiians ;  the  middle  chapters  are  Romans 
13  and  14  ;  the  middle  verse  is  Acts  17:17;  the 
shortest  verse  is  John  11:  35.  The  19th  chapter 
of  2  Kings  and  the  37th  chapter  of  Isaiah  are 
said  to  be  both  alike.  The  21st  verse  of  the 
7th  chapter  of  Ezra  has  all  the  letters  of  the 
Alphabet  in  it  except  the  letter  /.  The  foregoing 
general  summary  and  statistics  are  comparatively 
accurate  and  reliable,  having  been  gathered  from 
the  best  authors  and  staticians  of  the  Nineteenth 
Century. 


202  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 


CHAPTER  Xm. 


BAPTIST  PERIODICALS. 

Having  concluded  the  historical  sketches  of 
the  Baptist  Associations,  churches  and  ministers 
of  Southeast  Missouri,  we  will  now  proceed  to  a 
review  of  Baptist  journalism.  We  will  not  de- 
tain the  reader  with  a  general  account  of  the 
various  efforts  put  forth  to  establish  Baptist 
periodicals  or  journals  at  different  times  and 
places  in  the  State,  except  those  of  the  most  im- 
portance to  the  Baptists  of  Southeast  Missouri. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  first  Baptist 
journal  established  in  Southeast  Missouri  was  the 
"Ironton  Baptist  Journal."  This  was  started  in 
the  city  of  Iron  ton,  Iron  county,  Mo.,  by  Elder 
Wm.  Polk,  editor  and  proprietor,  in  the  year  of 
1859;  but  in  consequence  of  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war  in  1861,  its  publication  was  suspended, 
and  upon  the  death  of  its  faithful  proprietor  in 
1864,  it  ceased  to  exist.  Since  this,  no  other 
effort  has  been  made  to  establish  another  Baptist 
periodical,  so  far  as  we  know,  in  Southeast  Mis- 
souri.    But  we  are  thankful  to  state  for  the  good 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  203 

of  the  Baptists  of  Southeast  Missouri  as  well  as 
the  Baptist  brotherhood  of  the  entire  State,  that 
in  the  year  of  1868  *'Tlie  Central  Baptist,"  so- 
called  by  reason  of  the  consolidation  of  what  was 
known  as  the  * 'Missouri  Baptist  Journal,"  pub- 
lished at  Palmyra,  Mo.,  by  J.  H.  Luther  and  E. 
M.  Ehodes,  proprietors,  and  *'The Record,"  pub- 
lished by  A.  A.  Kendrick,  at  St.  Lonis,  Mo., 
was  established.  This  was  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant denominational  Baptist  papers  in  the 
State.  It  was  not  until  about  the  year  1872  that 
it  was  introduced  to  the  Baptists  of  Southeast 
Missouri,  since  which  time  it  has  been  read  with 
great  profit  by  many  leading  Baptists  of  that 
vicinity,  aud  has  proved  a  wonderful  factor  in 
the  development  of  practical  religious  thought 
and  activity  in  church  work  as  well.  It  has 
been  a  source  of  great  strength  to  the  weak  and 
of  comfort  to  the  feeble.  It  has  broken  down 
the  middle  walls,  or  partition  lines,  existing 
^ere  and  ^/lere  among  the  Baptists  of  the  State. 
It  opened  the  eyes  of  those  who  were  blinded  bv 
superstition  and  ignorance  to  the  importance  of  a 
practical  application  of  principle  to  duty ;  affect- 
ing a  more  general  acquaintance  among  the  Bap- 
tists of  all  parts  of  the  commonwealth  ;  imparting 
general  information  upon   Baptist  doctrines  and 


204  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

seDtiment;  giving  knowledge  of  what  the  Baptists 
were  from  Apostolic  standpoints,  what  they  had 
done  and  suffered  in  the  past,  and  w4iat  they  must 
do  in  the  future  to  glorify  God,  honor  them- 
selves and  the  cause  of  Christ.  I  can  truly  say 
that  such  has  been  the  blessed  result  of  the 
noble  and  successful  career  of  the  **  Central  Bap- 
tist" since  its  introduction  to  Southeast  Missouri, 
and  as  such  I  commend  it  to  the  faithful  con- 
sideration of  every  Baptist  family  in  all  the  fields 
to  which  it  may  go. 

This  valuable  paper  has  been  successfully  issued 
during  the  pastlnineteen  years.  I  will  mention 
its  chief  editors  :  J.  H.  Luther  was  the  first  edi- 
tor from  May,  1868,  to  May,  1875;  during  the 
first  half  of  which  time  it  reached  a  circulation  of 
eight  thousand.  Then  the  sole  proprietors,  for  a 
time,  were  W.  Pope  Yeaman,  p.  D.,  and 
Rev.  Willy  J.  Patrick,  when  Bro.  Patrick  retired 
leaving  it  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  Yeaman,  who  con- 
tinued it  until  October,  1877.  In  this  year  it  was 
turned  over  to  Rev.  Wm.  Ferguson  as  proprietor 
and  editor.  He  had  the  eflicient  aid  of  Rev.  J. 
E.  Armstrong  as  Associate  editor.  In  1882  Bro. 
Ferguson  sold  *'The  Central  Baptist"  to  Rev. 
W.  H.  Williams,  under  whose  able  management 
the  paper  has  steadily  continued  with  increased 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  205 

usefulness  and  widespread  circulation  throughout 
the  great  West. 

REV.    WM.    H.    WILLIAMS. 

We  will  now  give  a  short  sketch  of  Rev.  W. 
H.  Williams,  present  editor  of  the  "Central  Bap- 
tist." He  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  became 
identified  with  the  Baptists  when  quite  young. 
Having  professed  faith  in  Christ,  he  was  baptized 
into  the  fellowship  of  the  First  Baptist  Church 
of  Richmond,  Va.,  in  March,  1854.  He  gradu- 
ated from  Richmond  College  in  1861 ;  and  in  the 
same  year  spent  a  session  in  the  Southern  Baptist 
Theological  Seminary.  The  war  coming  on,  he 
enlisted  and  was  chaplain  in  the  Southern  army 
for  nearly  four  years,  when  he  became  the  effi- 
cient and  faithful  pastor  of  several  important 
churches.  His  first  pastorate  was  the  church  at 
Fredericksburg,  Ya.  After  this,  he  spent  two 
sessions  in  the  Southern  Baptist  Seminary ;  at 
the  close  he  received  his  diploma  as  a  full  gradu- 
ate of  that  institution.  Soon  after,  he  was  called 
to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of 
Charleston,  South  Carolina,  in  18G8.  Then  he 
became  pastor  at  Stanton,  Virginia,  and  next  at 
Tuscaloosa,  Alabama.  Here  he  spent  five  years, 
when  he  took  charge  of  the  church  at  Charlottes- 
ville, Virginia;  from  which  place  he  came  to  St. 


206  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

Louis,  Missouri,  to  enter  a  field  of  great  useful- 
ness, though  a  field  of  labor  and  trial  for  Christ's 
sake. 

THE    AMERICAN    BAPTIST. 

This  able  Baptist  periodical,  as  the  polemic  and 
historical  paper,  has  been  a  wonderful  instrument 
in  the  establishment  and  confirmation  of  Baptist 
principles  throughout  the  state  of  Missouri,  as 
well  as  other  fields  to  which  it  has  gone.  It  gives 
special  attention  to  ecclesiastical  history,  clearly 
demonstrating  the  Baptists  to  be  the  only  Chris- 
tian community  which  has  stood,  preserving- 
purity  of  faith  and  practice,  from  the  Apostolic 
age  to  the  present  time.  *'The  American  Bap- 
tist" is  bold  to  expose  the  false  interpretations 
of  the  Scriptures,  which  are  constantly  being  ad- 
vocated in  opposition  to  Baptist  claims.  In  these 
particulars,  it  has  filled  a  very  important  place  in 
Missouri  and  the  AVest  generally.  It  has  con- 
firmed the  weak  in  the  faith  and  added  strength 
to  the  strong;  while  many  opposers  have  been 
brought  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Christ,  through  its 
faithful  Gospel  teaching.  The  "American  Bap- 
tist" is  a  large  eight  page  paper,  issued  weekly, 
under  the  management  of  D.  B.  Ray,  Editor-in- 
chief,  aided  by  an  able  staff  of  editors.  It  first 
made  its  appearance  in  LaGrange,  Missouri,  Jan- 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  207 

uary,  1875,  under  the  name  of  the  "Baptist  Bat- 
tle Flag."  The  place  of  publication  was  removed 
from  LaGrange  to  St.  Louis,  in  1877,  where  it  is 
permanently  located.  In  July,  1879,  its  name 
was  changed  to  that  of  the  "American  Baptist 
Flag,"  and  in  December,  1887,  it  assumed  the 
present  name  of  the  "American  Baptist."  Its 
success  has  been  very  remarkable,  having  reached 
a  circulation  of  more  than  14,000,  which  is  the 
largest  circulation,  considering  its  age,  of  any 
Baptist  paper  in  the  denomination. 

Dr.  T.  M.  Colwell,  of  Mt.  Yernon,  New  York, 
was  added  to  the  editorial  staff  in  1887.  Also, 
Eider  J.  F.  Colwell  became  the  Associate  editor 
in  1887.  In  February,  1888,  the  "Baptist  Ban- 
ner," of  Mt.  Vernon,  Illinois,  became  consoli- 
dated with  the  "American  Baptist,"  and  the  able 
editor,  Elder  "\V.  P.  Throgmorton,  became  the 
Southern  Illinois  editor,  with  Elder  J.  J.  Midkiff, 
of  Cobden,  Illinois,  as  field  editor  of  the  South- 
ern Illinois  department.  Also,  the  name  of  Eld. 
C.  N.  Ray  has  been  prominently  associated  with 
the  paper  since  its  beginning,  as  field  editor  and 
correspondent.  With  the  present  able  corps  of 
editors,  there  seems  to  be  a  grand  future  for  the 
success  and  usefulness  of  the  "American  Bap- 
tist." 


208  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

ELDER   D.    B.    RAY. 

Elder  D.  B.  Kay  is  a  native  of  Hickman 
county,  Kentucky.  He  was  born  March  30th, 
1830,  and,  in  1844,  professed  faith  in  Christ,  and 
was  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  Little  Obion 
Church  by  Elder  Willis  White.  He  began  to 
preach  in  1854,  and  was  ordained  to  the  full  work 
of  the  ministry  in  1856,  from  which  time,  mitil 
1870,  he  gave  his  whole  time  to  the  work  in  west 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  He  served  several 
churches  as  pastor,  but  spent  a  large  part  of  his 
time  in  Associational  Mission  work,  and  in  special 
revival  work  in  various  states.  Thousands  were 
brought  to  Christ  under  his  labors.  In  1869, 
Elder  Ray  became  associated  with  Dr.  A.  S. 
Worrell,  of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  on  the  staff  of 
the  **Baptist  Sentinel,"  a  monthly  periodical. 
In  1873  he  removed  to  LaGrange,  Missouri,  and 
became  pastor  of  the  church  at  that  point.  In 
January,  1875,  he  began  the  publication  of  the 
'^Baptist  Battle  Flag,"  which  was  afterwards  re- 
moved to  St.  Louis.  He  removed  with  his  family 
to  St.  Louis  in  1880,  where  he  now  resides. 

Eld.  D.  B.  Ray  was  mostly  educated  in  Clinton 
Seminary,  West  Kentucky.  He  taught  school  for 
several  years  before  entering  the  ministry.  He 
has  engaged  in  about  fifty  public  discussions  with 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  209 

the  representatives  of  the  various  religious  de- 
nominations, especially  with  the  leaders  of  the 
Campbellite  and  Methodist  denominations,  in 
which  he  has  been  regarded  as  very  successful  in 
the  exposure  of  error  and  the  support  of  Bible 
truth,  as  held  by  Baptists.  Also,  Elder  Ray  has 
spent  much  of  his  time  in  special  revival  work. 
He  is  the  author  of  a  valuable  publication  called 
the  ''Text  Book  on  Campbellism,"  which  has 
reached  ten  editions,  and  is  regarded  as  having 
done  more  to  stop  the  progress  of  the  Campbellite 
heresy  than  any  other  publication.  Also,  he  is 
the  author  of  that  very  valuable  publication 
called  the  "Baptist  Succession,"  which  has 
reached  its  thirteenth  edition.  Two  oral  discus- 
sions which  he  has  held,  one  with  the  Campbellites 
and  the  other  with  the  Dunkards,  have  been  pub- 
lished in  book  form. 

ford's  christian  repository. 
This  able  monthly,  an  eighty-page  magazine 
edited  in  St.  Louis,  by  Dr.  S.  H.  Ford  and  his 
wife,  Mrs.  S.  E.  Ford,  designed  to  fill  the  place 
between  the  newspaper  and  the  book,  is  doubt- 
less one  of  the  most  popular  religious  magazines 
published  in  the  great  West.  It  has  been  read 
with  great  pleasure  and  profit  by  many  thousands 
of  Baptists   especially  throughout  the  State  of 


210  THE     BAPTISTS   OF 

Missouri.  It  was  first  published  in  Louisville, 
Kj.,  with  John  L.  Waller  and  Chas.  D.  Kirk,  as 
editors.  In  the  commencement  of  its  third  year, 
Dr.  Ford  became  associate  editor,  and  in  Jan- 
uary, 1856,  became  sole  proprietor.  In  July, 
1871,  the  first  number  of  this  splendid  magazine 
was  issued  from  St.  Louis,,  with  headquarters  at 
the  Baptist  Depository.  The  editor  then  said  ; 
*' After  ten  years  of  suspense,  consequent  upon 
the  civil  war  troubles,  this  periodical  is  again]_sent 
forth  into  the  world  of  thought  and  work.  It 
seeks  to  occupy  as  in  former  years  its  own  pecul- 
iar sphere.  Its  aim  is  to  supply  a  place,  which, 
so  far  as  its  conductors  are  aware,  is  not  filled 
by  any  other  journal.  It  addresses  itself  to  each 
member  of  the  household,  and  its  pages  will  be 
filled  with  matter  worthy  of  being  preserved." 
Therefore,  as  it  asks  the  generous  co-operation  of 
the  press,  of  the  ministry,  of  the  brotherhood 
and  sisterhood  of  the  Baptists,  we  do  most 
heartily  give  it  mention  in  these  sketches  as 
worthy  of  the  patronage  of  every  Christian  family 
in  the  land.  The  Family  Department,  conducted 
by  Mrs.  Sally  R.  Ford,  is  especially  attractive 
and  interesting  to  the  general  reader.  [This 
sketch  is  partly  taken  from  <*The  Christian  Re- 
pository," 1871,  Vol.  XI.,  page  78. J 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  211 

NATIONAL   BAPTIST   PUBLISHING    COMPANY. 

This  Compauy  was  organized  thus  : 
'*Oii  the  16th  of  January,  1878,  David  B.  Ray, 
James  B.  Weber  and  John  M.  Robinson  asso- 
ciated themselves  together  under  the  appelhition 
of  the  St.  Louis  Baptist  Publishing  Company, 
located  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis. 

By  the  articles  of  association,  the  objects  for 
which  said  Company  was  formed,  were  declared 
to  be  the  transaction  of  a  general  book  and  job 
printing  business,  the  publication  and  sale  of 
books,  pamphlets,  tracts  and  periodicals.  In  his 
preface  to  the  aforesaid  articles  of  association, 
the  president  says  :  *'The  vast  Hood  of  affiliating 
literature  which  is  overflowing  the  land,  makes 
the  establishment  of  our  Publishing  Company  a 
necessity.  Latitudinarianism  and  no-churchism 
is  becoming  the  order  of  the  day.  It  is  the  de- 
sign of  our  Publishing  Company  to  give  neither 
aid  nor  comfort  to  an  alien  Gospel  or  alien 
churches.  It  will  oppose  alien  baptism,  alien 
communion,  alien  ordination  and  an  alien  pulpit. 
While  others  publish  a  diluted,  mixed  or  per- 
verted Gospel,  it  will  be  the  province  of  our 
Company  to  publish  the  truth,  the  whole  truth, 
and  nothing  but  the  truth,  concerning  the  Gospel, 
kingdom  and  ordinances  of  Jesus  Christ." 


212  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

The  authorized  capital  stock  of  the  company 
is  $15,000,  divided  into  six  hundred  shares  of 
$25  each. 

January  19,  1878,  the  Company  was  duly  char- 
tered, and  became  a  body  politic  and  corporate, 
under  the  name  as  given  above.  In  June,  1881, 
the  Company  ** purchased  the  stereotype  plates 
and  the  entire  stock  of  books  of  the  Baptist  Pub- 
lishing House  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  removed 
them  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.  This  purchase  embraced 
the  standard  works  of  the  old  firm  of  Graves, 
Marks  &  Co.,  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Sunduy- 
school  Union,  and  those  once  owned  by  the  Sun- 
day-school Board  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Con- 
vention, as  well  as  the  stock  of  plates  and  books 
once  owned  by  the  Southern  Baptist  Publication 
Society  at  Memphis,  Tennessee.'' 

Including  the  foregoing  purchase,  the  company 
now  owns  the  stereotype  plates  and  copyrights 
of  more  than  one  hundred  religious  and  denomi- 
national books,  also  about  forty  tract  plates,  the 
original  cost  of  all  of  which  was  more  than 
$35,000. 

The  Constitution  of  this  Publishing  Company 
has  been  so  changed  that  there  are  seven  in  the 
Board  of  Directors  instead  of  three ;  and  in  the 
name,  St,  Louis  has  been  changed  to  National ^ 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  213 

SO  that  the  name  of  the  Company  is  now  The 
National  Baptist  Publishing  Company.  Its  rooms 
are  located  at  1111  Olive  street,  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
D.  B.  Kay  has  been  the  President  of  the  Com- 
pany from  the  beginning.  For  Bibles,  Testa- 
ments, and  all  kinds  of  reli odious  and  denomina- 
tional literature,  including  Sunday-school  libra- 
ries, papers,  Teachers,  Quarterlies  and  other 
helps,  address  the  National  Baptist  Publishing 
Company,  at  the  above-named  address. 

HISTORY    OF   THE     BAPTISTS     IN     MISSOURI, 
BY    R.    S.    DUNCAN. 

Of  all  the  different  books  published  in  Mis- 
souri, no  matter  how  important  the  subject,  not 
one  is  of  more  importance  to  the  whole  Baptist 
family  than  Duncan's  * 'Missouri  Baptist  His- 
tory." Hundreds,  yes,  thousands  of  brethren 
and  sisters,  who  are  at  this  time  quite  young, 
doubtless  read  it  with  pleasure.  How  much  more 
must  the  veterans  of  the  cross,  who  have  borne 
the  heat  and  burthens  of  pioneer  life,  in  estab- 
lishing the  standard  of  truth  and  holiness,  rejoice 
in  perusing  its  blessed  pages  as  a  sweet  memorial 
of  the  past — renewing  in  their  minds  and  hearts 
sacred  memories  of  the  faithful  soldiers  and 
watchmen  who  have  long  since  fallen  on  the 
battle  field  and  gone  to  their  just  rewards.     Such 


214  THE    BAPTISTS   OF 

is  the  spirit  and  purpose,  in  part  at  least,  of  this 
splendidly  arranged  and  well  executed  work.  Let 
us  think  over  the  olden  times  of  the  pioneer 
settlements — the  crude  log  cabin,  its  old-fashioned 
fire-place,  its  bright  light  of  blazing  sticks,  the 
little  window  by  which  grandfather  and  grand- 
mother sat,  the  old  log  church-house,  the  pleas- 
ant spring  and  shady  nooks  near  the  old  church 
where  the  thirsty  pilgrims  drank  and  rested,  and 
lust,  but  not  least,  the  good  old  preachers  in  the 
stand,  praying,  preaching  and  exhorting  the 
frontier  men  to  seek  the  heavenly  country  and 
the  living  fountain  of  life  in  Christ  Jesus.  Yes, 
these  facts  loom  up  in  glittering  beauty  on  the 
pages  of  this  book,  besides  what  has  been  accom- 
plished in  the  past  one  hundred  years  in  the 
wilderness  of  the  great  West.  Its  author  says 
that  its  purpose  is  to  preserve  from  oblivion  the 
memory  of  men  and  of  institutions  ;  to  record  on 
the  pages  of  history  the  important  events  of  the 
rise,  progress  and  results  of  Baptist  sentiments  in 
Missouri,  once  the  battle-field  of  soul  liberty  and 
freedom,  and  where  the  final  blow  to  Papal 
supremacy  in  the  United  States  was  struck. 
This  purpose,  together  with  the  knowledge  of  its 
contents  mentioned  above,  and  the  conclusive 
fact  that  it  was  written  by  a  native-born  Mis- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  215 

sourian — a  self-made  man,  trained  in  the  school  of 
the  same  pioneer  life — makes  it  a  desirable  book 
to  be  owned  and  kept  by  every  Baptist  family  in 
this  great  State. 

Its  author,  Bro.  R.  S.  Duncan,  was  born  in 
Lincoln  county,  Mo.,  April  27th,  1832,  and  is 
now  in  the  fifty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  In  1851, 
he  was  converted  to  Christ,  and  baptized  into  the 
fellowship  of  Zion  Baptist  Church,  Montgomery 
county,  by  the  venerable  James  F.  Smith.  In 
1855,  Bro.  Duncan  was  ordained  to  the  Gospel 
ministry.  He  w\is  soon  called  to  the  pastoral 
work,  in  which  capacity  he  has  faithfully  served 
many  churches.  In  the  year  of  1869,  he  was 
chosen  Agent  for  Missouri  of  the  Foreign  Mission 
Board  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Conventioii,  which 
place  he  has  filled  and  still  occupies  with  great 
faithfulness.  In  1858,  he  commenced  to  gather 
the  material  which  formed  the  subject  matter  of 
the  aforesaid  book.  The  log  school-house,  with 
a  few  weeks  of  school  in  the  winter  were  his  only 
opportunities  for  obtaining  an  education  ;  but  in- 
spired with  a  commendable  ambition,  he  has 
come  forth  as  few  would  have  done  under  similar 
circumstances.  For  this  reason  we  mention  him 
in  these  sketches. 


216  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


FATHER   JOHN    CLARK,    THE    METHODIST OTHER 

MINISTERS. 

The  first  Methodist  Society,  so  far  as  we  can 
learn,  was  organized  in  Cape  Girardeau  county, 
near  Jackson,  the  county-seat,  in  1807 — which 
was  the  year  following  the  first  permanent  or- 
ganization of  the  Baptists — but  by  whom  we  are 
not  informed.  However,  Father  John  Clark  was 
the  first  Methodist  preacher,  and  from  the  infor- 
mation at  hand,  was  doubtles,  the  first  preacher 
other  than  Roman  Catholics  to  set  his  feet  on 
the  western  shore  of  the  great  river  and  preach 
the  Gospel  to  the  few  scattered  settlements  of 
pioneer  Baptists  then  in  the  territory  of  Mis- 
souri, for  which  reason  we  mention  him,  and  also 
because  of  his  sino^ular  life  and  reliorious  charac- 
ter. 

He  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  being  born  near 
Inverness, — which  was  once  regarded  as  the  capi- 
tol  of  the  South  highlands  of  Scotland,— the  29th 
of  November,  1758.  He  received  a  liberal  edu- 
cation.    His    parents,    being    strict     Presbyte- 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI  217 

rians,  were  particular  in  having  the  classics, 
Mathematics  and  their  Church  Catechism  taught 
to  their  children  in  the  parish  schools.  He  took 
a  great  aversion  to  the  classics.  In  about  the 
year  1786,  he  came  to  the  state  of  Georgia  and 
settled  near  the  Savannah  river.  It  was  here 
under  the  ministry  of  Elders  John  Major  and 
Thomas  Humphries  that  he  united  with  the 
Methodist  church.  In  1791  he  was  received  on 
trial  as  a  preacher,  and  served  on  the  Eichmond 
circuit,  in  the  region  of  Georgia  three  years, 
when  he  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Asbury. 
Bro.  Clark  always  had  a  great  veneration  for 
John  Wesley  as  a  reformer  of  the  Church  of 
England,  but  was  truly  Scriptural  in  his  religious 
views,  and  therefore  learned  from  the  New  Tes- 
tament that  a  church  was  a  local  society,  and 
that  all  discipline  should  begin  and  end  in  such 
society  or  church.  From  these  views,  it  is  cer- 
tain that  he  looked  upon  the  Episcopal  mode  of 
church  government,  given  by  the  authority  of  a 
conference  of  bishops  and  ministers  as  not 
founded  on  Scripture,  and  was  therefore  trying 
to  lord  it  over  God's  heritage,  the  Church.  In 
consequence  of  these  views,  in  1795  he  severed 
his  relations  with  the  Methodist  Conference,  and 
in  1796  left  for  the  great  West  on  foot,  by  way 


218  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

of  Kentucky,  where  he  stopped  for  a  tune.  He 
linally  reached  Illmois,  where  he  made  his  home — 
if  home  he  had  at  all,  as  he  never  married— with 
Capt.  Joseph  Ogle,  or  James  Lemonson.  He 
visited  Missouri  in  1798  ;  at  this  time  ho  was  re- 
garded as  an  Independent  Methodist,  though  in 
sentiment  he  was  a  Baptist,  which  sentiment  he 
vindicated  in  the  year  1803,  when  he  became  a 
Baptist  officially  in  the  following  singular  man- 
ner. He  had  found  an  Independent  Methodist 
preacher  by  the  name  of  Talbot,  who,  like  him- 
self, had  became  dissatisfied  with  his  Methodist 
baptism.  A  meeting  was  appointed,  Talbot  bap- 
tizedClark,  and  in  return,  Clark  baptized  Talbot 
and  several  others.  Some  ten  years  after  this 
Clark  became  regularly  connected  with  the  Bap- 
tist denomination.  [See  his  history  called 
* 'Father  Clark,''  page  238.]  He  was,  therefore, 
the  first  pioneer  preacher  of  Missouri,  making 
his  first  visits  in  the  St.  Louis  district  of  the 
State.  He  was  so  faithful  that  it  is  said  that  he, 
at  one  time,  actually  travelled  all  night  to  reach 
his  destination,  reaching  the  place  in  time  to 
preach,  having  travelled  sixty-two  miles.  He 
died  in  the  year  1833,  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy^ 
five  years. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  219 

REV.    WM.    D.    HAMILTON. 

Rev.  Wm.  D.  Hamilton  is  a  native  of  St. 
Francois  county,  Missouri.  He  was  born  Febru- 
ary 4th,  1818,  which  makes  him  at  the  ripe  age 
of  seventy  years.  There  were  no  schools  nor 
scarcely  any  books  suitable  for  children  to  study, 
as  was  the  case  in  those  early  times;  so  he 
learned  his  letters,  which  were  made  by  the 
teacher  out  of  scraps  of  paper  and  pasted  on  a 
cedar  board.  When  thirty-one  years  old  he  pro- 
fessed religion  and  united  with  the  Pendleton 
Baptist  Church,  near  which  he  now  resides.  In 
the  year  1849  he  commenced  preaching  and  was 
ordained  by  order  of  this  church  in  the  year  of 
1852.  Elders  Wm.  Polk  and  eTames  Cleveland 
v^eve  the  Presbj'tery.  For  twenty  years  he  was 
more  or  less  engaged  in  the  pastoral  work.  At 
this  time,  however,  he  has  retired  to  his  pleasant 
home,  caring  for  his  aged  companion,  who  has 
passed  through  a  great  ordeal  of  afflictions,  which 
she  has  borne  with  patience  and  meekness,  while 
waiting  for  the  rest  beyond. 

REV.    JAMES   F.    BAKER. 

This  young  preacher  was  born  at  Fulton, 
Arkansas,  July  7th,  1846.  He  professed  faith 
in  Christ  and  united  with  the  Mt.  Zion  Church, 
October  20th,  1869.     By  order  of  this  church  he 


220  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

was  licensed  to  preach  April,  1871.  In  April, 
1872,  he  was  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the 
Gospel  ministry.  He  has  served  as  pastor  of 
fourteen  different  churches;  was  missionary  of 
Franklin  Association  for  a  term  of  five  years; 
and  though  never  a  graduate  of  any  theological 
school,  he  is  quite  an  able  preacher,  and  now 
resides  in  the  town  of  Farmington,  St.  Francois 
county. 

REV.    J.    C.    PERKINS. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Perkins  is  a  native  of  Shelby 
county,  Kentucky.  He  was  born  September  .30th, 
1831.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  this  state 
when  about  two  years  old,  and  settled  in  St. 
Francois  county,  where  he  was  brought  up. 
When  about  twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  pro- 
fessed faith  in  Christ,  and  was  baptized  into  the 
fellowship  of  the  Colony  Baptist  Church  by  the 
beloved  Wm.  Polk.  By  the  order  of  the  same 
church,  he  was  first  ordained  to  the  office  of  dea- 
con ;  and  sometime  after  to  the  full  work  of  the 
Gospel  ministry.  He  has  since  been  a  faithful 
helper  among  the  churches  of  the  good  old  Bethel 
Association.  He  resides  on  a  farm  a  few  miles 
east  of  Farmington,  and  is  loved  and  respected 
for  his  zealous,  but  meek  and  quiet  life. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  221 

ELDER    \VM.    S.    HUFF. 

This  gifted  young  preacher,  now  pastor  of  the 
Old  Pendleton  Baptist  Church,  one  of  the  oldest 
of  the  Bethel  Association,  is  a  native  of  Benton 
county,  Alabama,  being  born  February  the  23rd, 
1854. 

He  moved  with  his  parents  to  Missouri  in  the 
spnng  of  1866;  professed  faith  in  Christ,  and 
united  with  the  United  Baptist  Church  at  Big 
Creek,  Iron  county,  Missouri,  1873.  By  order 
of  this  church  he  was  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the 
Gospel  ministry  in  the  year  1875.  Having  had 
but  little  educational  advantages  in  his  youthful 
days,  and  desiring  to  become  better  qualified  for 
his  work,  he  attended  the  Farmington  Baptist 
College  a  part  of  two  sessions,  commencing  at 
the  advanced  age  of  thirty-one  years.  His  labors 
have  been  confined  to  pastoral  service,  which 
have  been  effective  and  useful  among  the  churches 
of  the  Concord  and  Bethel  Associations,  with  the 
promise  of  increasing  power  and  usefulness  in 
the  future. 

REV.    JOHN    HUFF. 

This  young  minister,  a  younger  brother  of 
Elder  Wm.  S.  Huff,  was  born  in  Lafayette 
county,  Alabama,  February  22d,  1859.  He  came 
to  Missouri   with  his  parents  in  the  year  1866. 


222  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

He  professed  religion  and  united,  in  the  year 
1879,  with  the  Big  Creek  Baptist  Church,  to 
which  his  brother  belonged,  in  Iron  county,  Mis- 
souri. He  attended  the  Baptist  College  in  Wayne 
county,  Missouri,  in  the  year  1881,  and  part  of 
1882,  and  the  State  Normal  School  the  close  of 
1882,  and  part  of  '83.  In  April,  1888,  he  was 
ordained  to  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry,  by 
order  of  the  Pendleton  United  Baptist  Church, 
St.  Francois  county,  Missouri ;  and  is  therefore  a 
promising  gift  of  the  Bethel  Baptist  Association 
of  Southeast  Missouri. 

ELDER   F.  M.    SHAUSH. 

This  promising  young  brother  is  a  native  of 
Mason  county,  Missouri,  but  was  principally 
brought  up  in  Randolph  county.  He  was  born 
October  31st,  1858  ;  was  converted  and  baptized 
into  the  fellowship  of  Bethlehem  Baptist  Church 
the  fourth  Sabbath  in  October,  1883,  under  the 
ministry  of  Elder  J.  F.  Smith,  of  Mexico,  Mo. 
After  this,  he  began  his  first  work  in  prayer- 
meetings  and  Sunday-schools  until  the  following 
August,  when  he  preached  his  first  sermon,  in 
Boone  county,  where  he  labored  in  a  protracted 
meeting  with  great  success.  At  the  close  he  re- 
turned home  and  engaged  in  a  meeting  with  his 
home  church,  Bethlehem,  Audrain  county.  Mo., 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  223 

which  resulted  in  many  conversions.  This  church, 
seeing  the  great  zeal  and  earnestness  for  the  sal- 
vation of  sinners  manifested  by  the  brother,  at 
once  licensed  him  to  preach  at  their  regular 
meeting  in  August,  1884.  Feeling  the  need  of  a 
better  preparation  for  this  great  work,  he  entered 
the  William  Jewell  College,  September  9th,  1884, 
where  he  spent  three  years,  one  of  which  he 
preached  to  Little  Platte  county.  For  conveni- 
ence, in  July,  1887,  he  moved  his  membership 
from  Bethlehem  Church,  Audrain  county,  to 
Centralia,  Boone  county.  In  the  fall  of  this 
year  he  entered  the  Southern  Baptist  Seminary 
at  Louisville,  Ky.  In  consequence  of  an  attack 
of  nervous  prostration,  he  had  to  give  up  his 
course  of  study  and  return  home.  Shortly  after 
this  he  assisted  Centralia  and  Sturgeon  Churches 
in  two  revival  meetings  which  resulted  in  twenty- 
five  accessions  to  the  church.  The  following 
spring  he  was  called  to  the  care  of  DeSoto  Bap- 
tist Church  for  half  of  his  time ;  also  Bismarck 
and  Bellview  Churches  each  one-fourth  of  the 
time.  In  consequence  of  this  necessity  of  pas- 
toral service,  by  order  of  his  home  church,  at 
Centralia,  Mo.,  he  was  set  apart  to  the  full  work 
of  the  ministry,  April  23rd,  1888,  The  Presby- 
tery   consisted   of  Elders  J.    F.    Smith,   J.   S. 


224  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

Jesse  and  W.  K.  Wigginton,  of  Mexico,  Mo., 
E.  Silver  and  j5.  G.  Hardy,  of  Centralia,  Mo. 
On  the  following  evening  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Ejither  E.  Rambaugh,  of  Centralia,  and  soon 
after  left  for  his  new  field  of  labor  in  Southeast 
Missouri,  stopping  at  Bismarck,  St.  Francois 
county,  where  he  now  resides,  in  a  most  impor- 
tant field  for  a  young  man. 

REV.  J.  N.  B.  HEPLER. 

This  gifted  young  preacher  was  born  in  Rock- 
bridge county,  Va.,  July  13th,  1858,  and  came  to 
this  State  in  1879.  He  professed  faith  in  Christ 
and  united  with  the  Methodist  Church,  South, 
in  the  year  1880,  and  commenced  preaching. 
Becoming  dissatisfied  with  his  baptism  in  1882, 
he  united  with  the  Baptist  Church  at  Curry ville. 
Pike  count}',  Mo.,  being  baptized  by  the  Rev.  W. 
J.  Patrick;  in  September  of  the  same  year  he 
was  ordained  by  order  of  this  same  church  to  the 
full  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry. 

He  received  his  education  at  Richmond  Baptist 
College  in  his  native  State  ;  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Linnie  Jamison,  of  Pike  county,  Mo.,  in 
1881.  They  now  reside  in  Farmington,  South- 
east Missouri.  He  has  the  pastoral  charge  of  the 
Baptist  church  at  that  place  as  well  as  Union, 
Bonne  Terre  and  Ironton  Churches. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  225 

ELDER  T.  L.  BRASSWELL. 

This  promising  young  minister  was  born  in 
Clinton  county,  Ky.,  October  2(3th,  1849.  In 
the  year  1865  he  professed  faith  and  united  with 
the  Hopewell  Baptist  Church,  Allen  county,  Ky. 
From  this  place  he  came  to  Missouri,  coming  by 
way  of  Tennessee,  where  he  stopped  for  a  time. 
He  reached  St.  Francois  county.  Mo.,  in  1878, 
where  he  stopped  and  located.  Soon  after,  in 
the  year  1879,  he  was  ordained  to  the  work  of 
the  Gospel  ministry,  and  was  soon  engaged  in  the 
active  work  of  a  pastor  as  well  as  in  missionary 
work,  having  served  some  twelve  different 
churches  as  pastor,  and  two  years  as  missionary 
of  the  Franklin  Baptist  Association.  He  now  re- 
sides in  Iron  county,  and  is  still  engaged  in  pas- 
toral work. 

STATISTICAL    STATEMENTS. 

In  conclusion  of  the  sketches  of  the  Associa- 
tions and  ministers  of  the  Regular  Order  of  Bap- 
tists in  Southeast  Missouri,  we  here  submit  the 
following  statistics,  as  gathered  from  the  Minute 
Reports  of  1885  : 

Associations 12 

Number  of  Churches 191 

Number  of  Ordained  Ministers.     .     .       150 
Baptisms  for  that  Year 931 


226 


THE    BAPTISTS    OF 


Total  Number  of  Communicants.   .     .11  302 
For  the  reader's  convenience   in  referring  to 
the  date  of  the  organization  of  each  Association, 
we  give  the  following  names  and  dates  in  Alpha- 
betical order: 

1.     Bethel  Association.    .     .ors^anized  1816 


2.  Cape  Girardeau. 

3.  Franklin.     .     . 

4.  Black  River.     . 

5.  St.  Francois  .   . 

6.  Jefferson  .   . 

7.  Cane  Creek.     . 

8.  Central  Missouri 

9.  Concord  S.  E. . 

10.  Wayne  County. 

11.  Charleston  .     . 

12.  New  Madrid.  . 


1824 
1832 
1835 

1850 
1853 
1857 
1858 
1867 
1875 
1876 
'883 


SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI.  227 


CHAPTER  XV. 


THE    BAPTIST   SANITARIUM — DR.    WM.  H.    INIAYFIELD 
AND   MRS.    ELLEN   MAYFIELD. 

Ill  all  former  Baptist  Histories,  written  at  dif- 
ferent times  and  places  where  Baptists  have  lived 
and  labored,  honorable  mention  has  been  made  of 
their  great  schools,  colleges,  universities,  semi- 
naries and  academies  for  the  moral,  mental  and 
physical  culture  and  development  of  all  who 
might  become  interested  in  a  Christian  education. 
But  nowhere  in  all  the  world  has  history  men- 
tioned the  establishment  of  a  single  Sanitarium. 
It  is,  therefore,  with  pleasure  unequalled  by  no 
other  interest  that  we  mention  in  The  History  of 
Southeast  Missouri,  a  Baptist  Sanitarium,  an  in- 
stitution w4iere  the  impotent  and  afflicted  of 
nearly  all  classes  (except  in  contagious  diseases) 
can  avail  themselves  of  all  the  advantages  that 
the  medical  fraternity  affords, 

THE    ONE   BAPTIST   SANITARIUM   IN   THE   WORLD. 

The  great  Baptist  denomination,  numbering  in 
the  United  States  alone  2,917,315,  and  filling  the 


228  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

earth  with  its  pure  teachings  of  the  Scripture,  has 
only  one  Sanitarium. 

The  denomination  supports  ministers,  mission- 
aries, seminaries,  colleges,  orphan's  homes,  and 
other  beneficent  and  benevolent  institutions;  but 
only  one  hospital.  "Why  is  this?  Baptists,  as  a 
body,  are  neither  stingy  nor  poor.  They  give 
liberally  to  the  support  of  hospitals,  Protestant 
and  Catholic.  This  is  as  it  should  be,  since  oth- 
ers have  to  care  for  our  sick. 

LOCATION. 

On  the  loth  of  Septeml)er,  1887,  the  Baptist 
Sanitarium,  located  on  the  corner  of  Bell  and 
Taylor  Avenues,  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  ^Yas  for- 
mally opened.  The  building  is  a  beautifully 
constructed  drab  brick,  two  stories  high,  with 
basement  rooms  and  furnace,  and  eleven  large 
rooms  and  halls,  all  well  ventilated.  The  situa- 
tion is  high,  commanding  a  view  of  the  city.  The 
spacious  grounds,  with  their  carpet  of  green, 
shaded  by  forest  trees  and  evergreens,  are 
an  invitation  to  repose.  To  one,  who  is  accus- 
tomed to  seeing  the  tall,  dirty,  brick  buildings,  sur- 
rounded by  high  walls  in  the  city,  used  as  a  home 
for  the  sick,  such  a  place  seems  more  like  a 
dream  than  a  happy  reality.  The  location  is  all 
that  could  be  desired,   removed  from  the  smoke 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  229 

and  dust  of  the  city.  It  can  be  reached  from  the 
heart  of  the  city  for  five  cents — the  Locust  street 
Cable  car  and  its  extension  carrying  passengers 
to  the  gate  in  twenty-five  minutes.  It  is  under 
the  management  of  Dr.  W.  H.  Mayfield,  M,  D., 
a  Professor  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  and  a  graduate  of  the  St.  Louis  Medi- 
cal Colleore.  He  is  also  a  reofular  member  of  the 
St.  Louis  Medical  Society.  He  is  a  man  of  great 
faith  and  piety,  and  undertook  this  work  as  a 
divinely  appointed  duty.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Mayfield 
is  the  Matron.  She  is  a  Christian  woman  of  ex- 
cellent standing.  Physicians,  matron  and  nurses 
have  given  their  services  free.  How  like  the 
blessed  Master  is  that  man  or  woman  who  sacri- 
fices all  in  the  service  of  humanity.  Healing 
soul  and  body  was  His  mission  on  earth.  Re- 
ligious services  are  held  in  the  institution.  There 
have  been  bright  conversions  among  patients  and 
visitors.    Certainly  God's  blessing  is  on  the  work. 

HEALING   THE    BODY. 

Since  the  opening  of  the  Sanitarium,  111 
patients  have  been  admitted.  The  majority  of 
them  were  Baptists;  but  none  have  been  turned 
away.  Catholics,  Lutherans,  Methodists,  Pres- 
byterians, unbelievers,  and  infidels  have  been 
treated.     Boarding  patients  have  come  from  Mis- 


230  THE    liArTI>TS    OF 

souri,  Illinois,  Arkansas,  Kansas,  Texas  and 
Montana.  An  average  of  live  patients  a  day  havo 
been  treated,  making  over  1,000  who  have  been 
treated,  exclnsive  of  those  boarding  in  the  institu- 
tion. 

The  cures  effected  in  the  short  history  of  the 
Sanitarium  attest  especial  Divine  favor.  Diseases 
treated  have  been  from  the  most  trifling  ailments 
to  the  most  serious.  One  remarkable  case  must 
be  mentioned  :  Miss  Eliza  Poe,  aged  38,  of  Cof- 
feysburg.  Mo.,  has  suffered  sixteen  years  with 
rheumatism  and  arthritis — the  knees  being  com- 
pletely anclosed  at  right  angles — and  has  not  'oeen 
able  to  walk  for  sixteen  3'ears.  She  is  now  able 
to  walk  and  the  present  points  to  complete  restor- 
tion.  The  case  o:oes  on  record  as  one  of  rare  ex- 
ception. 

OWNED    BY   THE   DEXOMIXATIOX. 

The  Sanitarium  does  not  belong  to  an  individ- 
ual. It  belongs  to  the  denomination.  So  far, 
it  has  cost  the  denomination  nothing  over  the 
rent  of  the  building  which  has  been  paid  by  sub- 
scriptions of  l)rethren,  citizens  of  St.  Louis  and  a 
few  subscriptions  from  the  country.  No  special 
appeal  to  the  Baptist  brotherhood  has  been  made. 
The  different  departments  have  been  furnished 
bv  donations. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  231 

A   SUPERIOR   ADVANTAGE. 

One  peculiar  advantage  to  the  patient  is  that 
the  medical  fraternity  of  the  city  are  in  heart 
sympathy  with  the  institution,  rendering  their 
assistance  when  called. 

TESTIMONIALS. 

Dear  Bro.  :  God  bless  you  in  your  good  work. 

G.  L.  Black. 

Liberty,  Mo. 

Dear  Bro.  :  May  God  prosper  you. 

Wiley  J.  Patrick. 

Bowling  Green,  Mo. 

Dear  Bro.  :  May  God  open  the  hearts  of  his 
people  to  give  to  this  worthy  object. 

Geo.  Bolsher. 

Columbia,  Mo. 

Dear  Bro.  :  Why  not  ask  every  preacher  for 
$5.00.     I  send  $5.00   for  the   preachers'  ward. 

^.  O.  Sowers. 

Salem,  Mo. 

Dear  Dr.  :  The  Sanitarium  has  been  near  my 
heart  ever  since  it  came  into  existence,  even  be- 
fore it  had  a  name  and  a  local  habitation.  I 
deeply  sympathize  with  you  and  your  dear  wife 
in  your  earnest  and  arduous  labors.  The  Bap- 
tists have  never  turned  their  attention  to  the  care 
of  the  sick,  but  in  time,  when  this  good  work  is 


232  THE   BAPTISTS   OF 

fully  presented  to  them,  they  will  give  it  a  noble 
support,  I  believe.  For  the  present  it  is  a  work 
of  faith  (as  every  good  work  is  a  work  of  faith). 
May  God  lead  you  on  in  his  way  and  give  you  the 
sympathy  and  aid  of  His  people. 

J.  P.  Greene, 
Pastor  Third  Baptist  Church. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Dear  Bro.  :  My  people  are  feeling  a  great 
deal  of  interest  in  your  noble  work. 

W.  M.  Harris, 
Pastor  Delmar  Avenue  Baptist  Church. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

I  speak,  as  a  witness,  cheerfully  attesting  the 
great  good  which  has  been  done  by  the  Baptist 
Sanitarium,  and  its  promise  for  the  future  if 
aided  by  the  prayers  and  gifts  of  God's  people. 

Nannie  Ray. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Mayfield. — Dear  Bro.:  I  have 
been'conversant  with  the  Baptist  Sanitarium  from 
the  day  of  its  organization.  It  is  the  child  of 
tears  and  prayers.  It  affords  an  asylum  to  dis- 
tressed and  afflicted  Baptists  and  is  accomplishing 
a  work  both  for  the  bodies  and  souls  of  our  suf- 
fering brotherhood  which  only  the  arithmetic  of 
Heaven  can  compute.     It   deserves   the  prayers, 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  233 

the  sympathy  and  the  hearty  co-operation  of  the 
Baptists  of  this  entire  country. 

Fraternally,  Wm.  H.  Williams. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Dear  Bro.  :  It  affords  me  unalloyed  pleasure 
to  state  that,  after  being  at  the  Baptist  Sanita- 
rium for  over  two  months,  I  can  most  heartily 
commend  it  for  its  humanitarian  and  Christian 
work.  Dr.  Mayfield,  the  Physician  in  charge,  is 
peculiarly  suited  to  this  character  of  work,  be- 
lieving as  he  does  that  Providence  has  clearly  in- 
dicated this  as  the  work  of  his  life.  Dr.  May- 
field  has  in  the  person  of  his  wife  a  most  compe- 
tent coadjutor.  The  importance  of  the  work 
done  by  the  Sanitarium  can  hardly  be  over- 
estimated. It  is  a  standing  proclamation  of  the 
words,  **As  oft  as  ye  do  it  unto  the  least  of  these 
my  little  ones,  ye  do  it  unto  me." 

L.  S.  Piker, 
Pastor  Fourth  Baptist  Church. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

The  work  of  the  Sanitarium  is  one  that  must 
appeal  to  all  Christians.  It  demands  and  should 
receive  Baptist  support.         C.  H.  Moscrip, 

Pastor  Park  Avenue  Mission. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Baptist  Sanitarium  collection  for  missions  re- 


234  THE     BAPTISTS    OF 

ceived.  I  think  it  (like  the  widow's  mite)  is 
large  in  the  eyes  of  the  Master.  May  God  bless 
you  in  your  noble  work.  Fraternally, 

G.  W.  Hyde. 

Lexington,  Mo. 

I  have  collected  $12.00  for  a  cot  in  the  Baptist 
Sanitarium.  My  people  are  feeling  a  great  inter- 
est in  your  noble  work.  Wm.  Harris, 

Pastor  Delmar  Avenue  Church. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Dear  Bro.  :  Our  brother  Glover,  who  recently 
visited  your  city,  became  very  much  mterested  in 
your  institution,  he,  Geo.  H.  Laughlin  and  I 
send  you  $15.00.  Yours  very  truly, 

H.  P.  Williams. 

New  York  City. 

I  realize  that  our  benevolence,  aiming  first  at 
the  spiritual  needs  of  our  fellowmen,  should 
secondly  embrace  their  material  distresses.  To 
provide  for  the  sick  and  suffering  is  a  duty  we 
have  never  appreciated  and  to  have  a  Baptist 
Hospital  or  Sanitarium  is  not  only  a  noble  object 
but  an  imperative  duty.  I  trust  all  will  help  in 
this  noble  enterprise.  J.  F.  Cook. 

LaGrange  College,  Mo. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  235 

DR.  W.  H.  MAYFIELD. 

In  connection  with  the  beginning  and  final  es- 
tablishment of  the  Mayfield-Smith  Academy  at 
Marble  Hill,  and  the  Baptist  Sanitarium  in  St. 
Louis,  it  is  right  that  mention  be  made  in  these 
sketches  of  AYm.  H.  Majfield,  M.  D.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  his  name  appeared  when  the 
rest  of  the  large  and  influential  Mayfield  family 
were  mentioned  in  connection  with  Little  White 
^Yater  Church,  located  on  Ichards'  Creek,  Bol- 
linger county. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  January 
18th,  1852.  Like  the  rest  of  his  family  he  was 
trained  to  farm  labor,  industry  and  economy. 
His  educational  advantages  in  early  life  were 
limited,  as  in  many  districts  there  were  no 
schools,  and  a  term  of  three  months  during  the 
year  was  the  most  in  any  district,  with  no  graded 
nor  high  school  near. 

When  eighteen  or  nineteen  years  old  young 
Mayfield  left  home,  with  his  father's  permission, 
determined  to  seek  an  education.  At  this  time 
he  could  only  read  and  write,  and  had  but  little 
knowledge  of  arithmetic.  He  entered  the  Car- 
rollton  Institute,  located  in  St.  Francois  county, 
from  which  place  he  returned  with  a  compara- 
tively good  business  education.     He  then  entered 


236  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

Fruitland  Normal  Institute,  Cape  Girardeau 
county,  Mo.,  where  he  was  prepared  for 
teaching,  after  which  he  taught  eight  pub- 
lic school  terms.  He  finally  settled  at  Smith 
ville,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  business 
for  a  few  years.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Ellen 
Sitze,  of  Madison  county,  May  10th,  1874.  She 
was  a  daughter  of  Bro.  John  F.  Sitze,  of  that 
county,  a  much  respected  citizen  and  faithful 
member  of  Castor  Baptist  Church.  When  about 
sixteen  years  old  he  professed  faith  in  Christ  and 
was  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of  Castor 
Church,  where  his  parents  then  belonged,  a  dis- 
tance of  twelve  miles  from  home. 

After  his  marriage,  he  continued  his  business 
at  Smithville  until  1877.  In  September  of  this 
year  he  was  appointed  general  financial  agent  of 
the  St.  Francois  Association,  to  solicit  means  for 
its  missionary  work,  and  retired  from  business 
that  he  might  give  himself  wholly  to  this  im- 
portant woi-k  and  his  chosen  medical  pursuits 
and  studies^  under  Henry  J.  Smith,  M.  D.,  resi- 
dent physician  at  Smithville,  Bollinger  county, 
Missouri. 

The  subject  of  Christian  education  was  at  this 
time  in  agitation  among  the  Baptists  of  South- 
east Missouri.    The  previous  year  the  author  had 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  237 

been  appointed  missionary  of  the  St.  Francois 
Association  for  the  year  1878,  beginning  his 
work  in  October,  1877.  In  the  spring  of  1878, 
he  introduced  to  the  people  of  Smithville  the  im- 
portance of  establishing  a  Christian  institution  of 
learning  in  and  for  Southeast  Missouri,  stating 
that  the  community  giving  the  best  inducements 
might  have  the  honor  of  its  location  in  their 
midst. 

The  importance  of  these  suggestions  was  imme- 
diately perceived  by  the  quick  and  active  mind 
of  Dr.  Smith,  who  had  already  been  impressed 
with  this  work  by  his  student,  Dr.  May  field,  who 
had,  with  his  devoted  wife,  been  praying  to  God 
to  open  up  the  way.  The  whole  plan  seemed  to 
be  made  clear  to  their  minds  one  morning  near 
the  dawn  of  day,  and  after  careful  consideration, 
and  prayer  and  thanksgiving  to  God,  they  made 
it  known  to  Dr.  Henry  J.  Smith,  a  Presbyterian, 
who,  in  the  meantime,  feeling  himself  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  this  matter,  had  called  to 
see  them.  After  hearing  their  statements  he  en- 
thusiastically encouraged  Dr.  Mayiield  to  proceed 
at  once.  Dr.  Maytield  immediately  drew  up  a 
proposition  in  the  form  of  a  subscription  list  which 
was  soon  signed  by  a  large  num])er  of  the  citizens 
of  Smithville,  which  was  submitted  for  their  con- 


238  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

sideration  the  September  following,  at  the  time 
of  the  meeting  of  the  St.  Francois  Association. 
In  this  work,  as  well  as  in  the  missionary  work, 
he  displayed  great  energy  and  faithfulness,  as 
was  shown  in  his  report  to  the  Association  at  the 
session  held  with  Big  Creek  Church,  Madison 
county,  September  1st,  1878.  The  report  made 
a  showing  of  more  than  11,100,00  raised  by  sub- 
scription and  moneys  paid  in  for  this  enterprise. 
It  was  thus  that  he  began  to  display  those 
noble  qualities  of  soul  and  mind  which  gave  him 
hio^h  rank  amonor  the  younoj  men  of  Southeast 
Missouri.  He  has  never  stopped  nor  faltered  in 
his  devotion  to  this  enterprise,  notwithstanding 
his  personal  sacrifice  of  means,  his  long  trips 
without  any  salary,  his  sleepless  nights, — all  this 
accompanied  by  the  adverse  opinions  of  others 
and  sad  disappointments.  But  he  never  stopped 
until  he,  like  others,  saw  the  travail  of  his  soul, 
finally,  in  the  erection  and  establishment  of  a 
splendid  brick  structure  on  a  beautiful  eminence 
at  Marble  Hill,  the  county-seat  of  Bollinger 
county.  This  building  has  a  capacity  for  200 
students,  and  is  estimated  to  be  w^orth,  at  least, 
'^000,  all  paid.  This  was  only  the  sequel  to 
jne  of  the  high  aims  and  noble  ambitions  per- 
vading his  soul. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  239 

After  three  years  of  arduous  study,  he  gradu- 
ated with  honors  from  the  St.  Louis  Medical  Col- 
lege, shortly  after  which  he  was  chosen  Professor 
of  Materia  Medica  and  Diseases  of  Children  in 
the  St.  Louis  College  of  Physicians  and  Sur- 
geons, which  position  he  has  filled  wdth  fidelity 
and  ability.  From  this  high  position,  he  sought 
to  establish  a  Baptist  Sanitarium  in  the  City  of 
St.  Louis,  for  the  relief  and  benefit  of  suffering 
humanity.  This  is,  to-day,  the  only  institution 
of  the  kind,  under  Baptist  supervision  in  the 
world.  It  is  located  on  Taylor  and  Bell  Avenues. 
Doubtless,  a  more  useful  or  consecrated  life  to 
the  cause  of  Christ  and  humanity  has  not  been 
found  in  these,  the  later  days  of  the  Nineteenth 
Century. 

MRS.    ELLEN   C.    MAYFIELD. 

Mrs.  Ellen  C.  Mayfield,  wife  of  Dr.  W.  H. 
May  field,  St.  Louis,  and  matron  of  the  Baptist 
Sanitarium  of  said  city,  is  deserving  of  honorable 
mention  among  the  noble  women  of  our  faith. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  the  7th  of 
September,  1858,  and  was  the  daughter  of  the 
late  venerable  and  beloved  John  F.  Sitzes,  of 
Castor  Valley,  Marquand,  Madison  county,  Mis- 
souri. 

On  the  10th  of  May,  1874,  she  was  married  to 


240  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

Dr.  Mayfield,  to  whom  she  has  been  a  faithful 
helpmeet  and  wise  counsellor.  Shortly  after  her 
marriage  she  professed  faith  in  Christ  and  was 
baptized  by  Elder  H.  F.  Tong  into  the  fellowship 
of  the  Mt.  Carmel  Baptist  Church,  Bollinger 
county,  Missouri. 

Sister  Mayfield  is  a  woman  of  faith  in  prayer 
and  in  her  work  of  many  cares  as  matron  of  the 
Sanitarium,  she  is  often  in  communion  with 
Him  in  whom  all  fullness  dwells.. 

Her  early  education  was  principally  obtained 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  country.  But  after 
the  establishment  of  the  Mayfield-Smith  Academy, 
she  shared  in  the  educational  advantages  of  that 
institution,  while  under  the  able  supervision  of 
Prof.  T.  W.  Tate.  This  was,  doubtless,  the 
ground-work  of  what  seems  to  be  her  life-work — 
matron  of  the  Baptist  Sanitarium.  Her  work  is 
a  peculiar  one,  requiring  in  a  large  measure  the 
exertion  of  heart  and  head.  Few  are  found  like 
this,  willing  to  give  up  the  sanctities  of  family 
and  home  life  for  the  benefit  of  the  sick  and 
afflicted.  For  such  sacrifices  and  faithfulness,  will 
not  the  *' well-done"  plaudit  be  heard  from  the 
King  of  Glory,  saying  unto  her,  '^Inasmuch  as 
you  did  it  unto  the  least  of  these,  my  bi-ethren,ye 
did  it  unto  me.  Enter  unto  the  joys  of  thy  Lord.'* 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  241 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


CONCLUSION. 

The  arduous  but  pleasant  task  which  the  author 
has  undertaken  in  gathering  the  material  and  com- 
piling for  the  press  this  volume,  with  its  various 
historical  sketches  of  the  churches,  associations, 
leading  ministers  and  lay  brethren,  is  now 
finished.  These  brethren  have  figured  in  the 
grand  conflict  for  truth  and  religious  liberty  for 
themselves  and  their  children  in  Southeast  Mis- 
souri during  a  period  of  nearly  one  hundred 
years.  Besides  those  contained  in  this  book, 
mention  conld  be  made  at  great  length  of  the 
heroic  fathers  in  the  dark  ages  before  them,  yes, 
even  from  the  days  of  the  apostles,  whose  faith- 
fulness sealed  their  lives  to  Christ  for  the  truth's 
sake ;  but  we  have  not  space  in  this  conclusive 
address  except  to  refer  the  reader  to  their  example 
which  lives  after  them.  I  cannot  close  this  task, 
however  arduous  it  has  been,  without  a  suggestive 
hint  of  the  great  and  important  duties  involving 
upon  us,  their  children,  which  are  so  vastly 
spread  out  before  us  by  their  noble,  self-sacri- 
ficing examples  and  lives. 


242  THE   BAPTISTS   OF 

Their  labors  of  love  for  the  cause  of  truth  and 
religious  liberty,  that  they  might  honor  Christ 
and  glorify  God  as  well  as  to  transmit  to  their 
children,  unimpaired,  the  cause  they  loved  so 
well,  seems  to  have  been  so  signally  blest  of  God, 
amidst  all  the  persecutions  and  trials  of  the  past, 
that  we  cannot  doubt  but  what  they  have  proven 
themselves  to  be  His  chosen  people,  faithful  to 
His  commands  and  zealous  for  good  works,  with 
a  firm  and  realizing  trust  that  His  Word  should 
not  return  void,  but  accomplish  that  for  which  it 
was  sent.  These  examples  urge  us  to  go  on  in 
the  conflict  until  the  darkness  of  superstition  and 
ignorance  has  passed  and  the  cause  of  truth  shall 
shine  upon  all  the  phices  of  the  earth ;  until 
God's  people  shall  come  forth  terrible  as  an 
army  in  battle  array,  with  flying  banners,  and 
yet  as  beautiful  as  the  sun  when  he  shineth  in  all 
his  strength.  Therefore,  let  us  go  on  unto  per- 
fection in  the  good  work,  seeking  to  bring  to  the 
cause  every  available  means  which  God  has  given 
to  our  hands  ;  not  laying  foundations  for  the  re- 
formation of  the  Church  of  Christ  as  has  been 
done  by  the  Romish  Church,  and  was  attempted 
by  A.  Campbell  in  the  Baptist  and  Protestant 
churches.  But,  considering  our  origin  from 
Christ  and  the  Apostles,  let  us  go   forth  as   our 


SOUTHEAST    MISSOURI.  243 

fathers  have  done,  with  the  sword  of  the  Spirit, 
which  is  the  Word  of  God,  conquering  and  to 
conquer  until  there  shall  be  but  one  fold  and  one 
Shepherd  which  is  Christ  Jesus. 

For  these  claims,  dear  brethren,  we  have,  cer- 
tainly, the  most  encouraging  reasons,  a  few  of 
which  I  will  here  mention : 

The  reformation  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church,  which  began  successfully  in  the  Sixteenth 
Century,  having  introduced  a  principle  of  reaction 
and  thought,  which  has  since  been  unders-oine' 
great  expansion  as  is  to  be  seen  clearly  from  all 
sides,  inasmuch  as  thinking  men  everywhere,  of 
the  Romish  as  well  as  all  Protestant  sects,  which 
have  their  origin  from  Rome  and  not  from 
Christ,  are  now  busily  engaged  in  examining 
their  foundations  and  tracing  them  to  their 
origin,  only  to  be  surprised  upon  finding  them  to 
be  far  short  of  a  connection  with  Christ  and  his 
Apostles.  Holding  as  they  do  the  sentiment  of 
the  old  reformers,  that  nothing  is  to  be  believed 
or  admitted  in  religion,  which  cannot  be  sustained 
by  the  light  of  the  Word  of  God  and  sound  rea- 
son, with  such  views  and  such  inquiries  after 
truth,  are  they  not  thereby  forced  to  abandon  the 
doctrines  and  traditions  of  men;  asking  for  a 
system  of  faith  and  practice  which  will  stand  the 


244  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

strongest  test  of  research  and  criticism — desiring 
to  walk  in  the  old  paths?  Thus  it  is  that  inde- 
pendent inquiry  proceeds  gravely  to  question  all 
forms  of  religious  principles  and  dogmas,  wish- 
ing to  know  who  holds  the  keys  of  true  Chris- 
tianity. It  is  not  unreasonable  to  suppose  that, 
as  we  profess  to  walk  in  that  way  according  to 
the  Word  of  the  Lord,  many  will  embrace  our 
2:)rinciples  of  faith  and  practice  as  those  which 
nearest  resemble  primitive  Christianity.  The 
practice  of  infant  baptism,  sprinkling  and  pouring 
for  baptism,  is  declining  and  dying  away  among 
our  Pedo-baptist  brethren.  We  may  confidently 
infer  that  great  accessions  to  our  ranks  will  soon 
be  made.  They  will  learn  that  men  are  not  born 
Christians  until  they  are  born  again  of  the  Spirit, 
and  that  they  cannot  be  made  Christians  by  sim- 
ple obedience  to  Church  ordinances,  such  as  bap- 
tism, being  placed  in  the  care  of  god-fathers  and 
god-mothers,  nor  by  the  Lord's  Supper,  confes- 
sion and  penance.  They  will  learn  that  member- 
ship in  a  Baptist  Church  implies  an  acknowledge- 
ment of  experimental  religion  for  each  individual 
as  a  prerequisite  to  all  church  privileges.  This 
excludes  infant  membership  and  all  formularies 
for  religion,  teaching  the  person  to  first  become 
a  Christian,  then,  with  the  love  of  obedience  to 


SOUTHEAST  MISSOURX.  245 

the  commands  of  Christ,  he  begins  the  duties  of 
a  Christian  believer.  These  sentiments,  we,  as 
Baptists,  should  earnestly  advocate.  Nor  is  this 
sufficient.  We  should  teach  that  membership  in 
a  Baptist  Church  implies  piety  and  holiness  of 
life,  the  object  of  which  is  to  keep  the  unity  of 
the  Spirit  in  the  bonds  of  peace  by  a  cultivation 
of  godliness  and  a  holy  character  which  will 
throw  its  influence  abroad,  inviting  others  to 
share  in  the  faith  and  holiness  of  the  primitive 
churches,  thereby  drawing  them  to  God,— train- 
ing them  by  a  course  of  spiritual  education  for 
usefulness  in  this  life  and  the  enjoyment  of  the 
life  to  come. 

All  this  cannot  be  accomplished  except  through 
a  progressive,  spiritual  religion,  which  is  to  be 
seen  and  read  of  all  men.  I  mean  personal  re- 
ligion ;  for,  while  orthodoxy  is  necessary  in  faith 
and  practice,  it  will  not  insure  spiritual  power 
without  a  daily  living  likeness  to  Christ,  which  is 
the  saving  efficacy  of  our  principles  and  influence. 
This  is  true,  especially  as  there  are  sects  that 
have  success  in  gathering  members  without  these 
attainments,  but  why?  Because  of  the  worldli- 
ness  that  is  natural  in  their  constitutions  and  the 
possession  of  church  privileges  by  natural  descent 
which  more  or  less  secures  only  a  carnal  member- 


246  THE    BAPTISTS    OF 

ship.  The  Baptists  depend  altogether  for  success 
and  numerical  strength  upon  the  prevalence  of 
true  godliness  in  their  members ;  for  if  these 
spiritual  requisites  are  lacking  in  us,  then  those 
seeking  spiritual  life  and  blessings  will  go  else- 
where in  search  for  them — so  far  as  the  church  is 
concerned — and  our  future  progress  will  be 
darkened  by  clouds  of  disgrace  and  failure. 

Then,  with  what  eagerness  should  we  engage 
to  promote  Christian  piety  and  zeal  among  our- 
selves !  Oh !  how  closely  should  we  cling  to  the 
cross  of  Christ,  watching,  guarding  against  all 
tendencies  to  lower  the  standard  of  the  principles 
so  faithfully  maintained  b}^  our  feathers  and  now 
entrusted  to  our  care.  Oh!  brethren,  for  these 
principles  should  w^e  not  watch  and  labor  and 
pray?  Our  brethren  in  the  ministry,  who  are  the 
undei'-shepherds  of  the  flock,  should  strenuously 
guard  against  lowering  the  standard  of  the  Gos- 
pel, by  not  substituting  a  pleasing  essay  for  plain 
Gospel  preaching,  and  by  not  attempting  to  lead 
the  services  of  the  church  b}^  any  mere  dead 
formality.  They  should  seek  to  be  spiritually- 
minded  in  all  things  pertaining  to  the  service  of 
the  church  especially  in  the  pulpit.  Preach 
Christ  always  with  the  power  and  demonstration 
of  the  Spirit!     With  these  characteristics  and 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  247 

vigilant  observance  of  the  laws  of  discipline,  so 
that  the  purity  of  the  churches  is  being  main- 
tained— each  member  becomes  a  living  epistle 
through  life,  known  and  read  of  all  men — we  may 
expect  a  grand  success  ;  and  it  is  with  these  con- 
siderations that  I  most  cheerfully  conclude  the 
arduous  task  of  this  w^ork,  which  has  engaged  my 
time  and  means  for  two  long  years  with  much 
care,  anxiety  and  solicitude  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  my  brethren  in  Southeast  Missouri. 
Notwithstanding  which,  I  am  forced  to  believe, 
from  the  history  of  tlie  past,  that  there  is  a  great 
future  for  the  Baptists ;  and,  I  may  say,  it  is  our 
duty  to  prepare  for  it.  Doubtless,  thousands  of 
souls  are  looking  out  from  obscurity  and  dark- 
ness, seeking  for  the  living  God,  asking  our  guid- 
ance in  their  search  for  truth  and  life,  freedom  of 
conscience,  and  the  right  of  reading  for  them- 
selves, which  has  been  outraged  and  trodden  upon 
by  the  tyrants  of  the  earth.  They  will  continue 
to  call  upon  us  to  assert  their  rights  in  the  future 
as  in  the  past ;  and  while  we  are  thus  beckoned 
to  this  holy  war,  let  us  not  forget  that  it  is  our 
glory — a  glory  in  which  no  Protestant  can  claim 
a  share,  as,  before  the  Sixteenth  Century,  during 
which  time  the  Protestants  may  have  had  some 
glory,     our     fathers    long    before    that    time, 


248  THE   BAPTISTS   OF 

then  and  since  wielded  the  sword  of  the 
Spirit  with  hands  which  have  never  been 
reddened  by  a  brother's  blood  because  he 
desired  to  feast  upon  the  principles  of  the 
living  God.  Oh,  our  martyred  fathers  and 
mothers!  for  the  cause  of  truth,  burnt,  be- 
headed, strangled,  or  drowned  in  almost  every 
European  land  at  the  beginning  of  the  Reforma- 
tion. As  yet,  many  of  them  are  unknown  to 
fame ;  although  their  Christian  heroism  was  so 
grand,  that  they  bid  us,  by  their  noble  deeds  of 
suffering  for  the  truth,  display  a  zeal  befitting 
the  privileges  and  opportunities  we  now  enjoy, 
by  a  faithful  consecration  of  ourselves,  our 
meanS;  and  our  lives  to  the  cause  by  establishing 
churches,  charitable  institutions,  Christian  edu- 
cation and  Christian  benevolence  in  every  part  cf 
the  world. 


SOUTHEAST   MISSOURI.  249 

BEHOLD  THE  SETTING  SUN. 


BY  H.    F.   TONG. 


Farewell,  my  dear  reader,  now  that  you  are  done 
The  reading  of  a  book,  so  curiously  begun ; 
For  the  cause  of  the  truth  that  I  have  loved  so  well, 
I  began  this  work,  on  which  now  I  love  to  dwell. 


For  many  weeks  and  months  and  years 

I've  seen  the  setting  sun, 
And  in  the  darkness  of  the  hour 

My  race  seemed  nearly  run ; 
But  still  I  gladly  lingered  on — 

To  work,  to  toil,  to  pray, — 
Hoping  that  in  the  future  years 

I'll  find  a  restful  day. 


Farewell,  dear  reader,  this  book  to  you  I  leave, 
Given  as  a  legacy  from  our  older  fathers. 
Who  have  suffered  more  than  I,  but  who  are  resting 
Now  in  Heaven,  far  above  the  sky : 
For  now  their  sun  is  set,  this  life  they  know  no  more, — 
Weep  not,  dear  Christian  mourner,  for  they  will  rest  for- 
ever 
Where  there  is  no  setting  sun,  nor  fading   moon,  nor 

stars. 
Then  behold  the  setting  sun,  dear  reader,  and  think, 
"Is  the  darkness  near,  when  I  must  quit  this  mortal  life, 
And  before  my  God  appear  to  answer  for  the  deeds 
I've  done,  while  on  this  terrestrial  sphere?" 


250      THE  BAPTISTS  CF  SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI. 
THE  CHRISTIAN'S  FUTURE  HOME. 


I  soon  shall  drop  this  mortal  coil, 

I  know  my  time  draws  nigh ; 
When  freed  from  earth  I'll  tread  the  soil 

Of  that  city  built  on  high. 

Life's  warfare  closed,  the  victory  won, 

My  hea^y  cross  laid  down ; 
I'll  hear  the  joyful  words,  *'Well  done— 

Receive  thy  promised  crown." 

Xo  cares  disturb  that  peaceful  realm, 

No  waves  of  sorrow  roll, 
To  break  and  bruise  and  overwhelm 

The  blood-bought  happy  soul. 

No  discord  there,  no  note  of  woe, 

No  bitter  tears  nor  strife, 
But  as  the  years  eternal  go, 

The  soul  finds  newer  life. 

Close  by  the  Lamb  for  sinners  slain, 

I'll  joyful  take  my  place, 
And  shout  hosannas  to  His  name. 

Who  saved  me  by  His  grace. 

With  God  the  Father,  God  the  Son, 

With  God  the  Spirit,  Three, 
No  tongue  can  speak  the  glories  won — 

This  is  glory  for  me. 

Selected. 


APPENDIX.  25 


APPENDIX.' 


I.      AMERICAN    BAPTIST  PUBLICATION   SOCIETY,   ST. 
LOUIS  BRANCH  HOUSE, 

This  may,  very  properly,  be  enumerated 
among  the  Baptist  institutions  of  Missouri,  not- 
withstanding its  ownership  is  in  the  society 
named,  and  it  is  designed  and  managed  alike  for 
the  benefit  of  the  denomination  in  all  the  states 
and  territories  to  which  its  work  and  influence 
may  go.  But  Baptists  of  the  city  of  St.  Louis, 
foreseeing  and  believing  that  such  an  institution 
as  this,  located  permanently  here,  at  this  chief 
central  metropolis  of  the  great  valley  of  the  con- 
tinent, would  not  only  prove  a  useful  agency  to 
the  building  up  of  the  cause  at  home,  but  for  ex- 
tending and  strengthening  it  over  the  State  and 
the  wide  country  beyond,  wisely  accepted  a  prop- 
osition made  by  the  American  Baptist  Publication 
Society,  through  its  Board  in  Philadelphia,  to 
the  Baptists  in  St.  Louis,  and  raised  and  paid 
over  to  that  society  the  sum  of  $5,000.  This  se- 
cured the  permanent  establishment  of  a  branch 
house  of  the  society   here,  for  the  sale   of  the 


252  APPENDIX. 

society's  publications  and  of  Baptist  literature 
generally,  as  well  as  to  constitute  a  center  from 
which  colporteurage  and  Sunday-school  work  for 
the  Mississippi  Valley  and  beyond  should  be  con- 
ducted. Baptists  of  this  field  may ,  therefore, prop- 
erly be  considered  as  part  proprietors  of  the  insti- 
tution, inasmuch  as  they  have  vested  as  well  as 
beneficiary  interests  in  it.  And  no  one  small  in- 
vestment made  by  Missouri  Baptists  has  probably 
ever  done  move  for  the  advancement  of  our  gen- 
eral cause  in  the  State  and  beyond  than  has  this. 
Rev.  G.  J.  JoHNSOX,  D.  D.,  who,  for  five  years 
previously,  had  served  the  Publication  Society  as 
its  western  secretary  from  another  point  in  the 
field,  was  now  called  to  St.  Louis,  and,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  duties  of  secretary  for  the  benevolent 
and  missionary  work  of  the  society,  was  made  its 
business  agent  and  depositary  to  conduct  the 
branch  house.  About  the  first  of  November, 
1868,  the  Baptist  Book  Depository  of  St.  Louis 
was  formally  opened,  with  public  ceremonies,  in- 
cluding addresses  by  Eev.  John  H.  Luther,  D. 
D.,  then  editor  of  the  Central  Baptist,  Drs.  A. 
H.  Burlingham  and  A.  A.  Kendrick,  and  others, 
then  pastors  in  St.  Louis.  Four  most  reputable 
lay  brethren,  also,  all  of  whom  had  given  the  most 


APPENDIX.  253 

liberally  for  the  enterprise — but  are  now  all  so 
soon  dead  and  gone — Marshall  Brotherton,  Wm. 
M.  McPherson,  Thos.  Pratt  and  Daniel  B.  Gale- 
were  present  and  participated.  The  Central 
Baptist,  always  true  to  the  movement,  and  the 
other  Baptist  papers  of  the  field,  by  their  efficient 
advocacy,  gave  wide  advertisement  of  the  house, 
and  thus  it8  business  early  commenced.  The 
sales,  however,  for  the  first  four  months,  only 
aggregated  $2,356.38  ;but  the  next  year  1869-' 70, 
showed  a  grand  increase,  it  now  footing  up  for 
twelve  months,  $24,373.75 ;  the  next  year, 
$32,562.83;  the  next,  $32,920.96;  then  $30,- 
851.53  ;  and  the  next  the  jubilee  or  fiftieth  year 
of  the  society  and  the  fifth  of  this  branch,  reach- 
ing the  largest  aggregate  of  sales  it  has  ever 
attained,  to-wit :  $36,140.72.  The  continued 
and  increasingly  *'hard  times,"  that  have  since 
followed  and  oppressed  all  the  financial  affairs  of 
the  country,  have  measurably  affected  the  busi- 
ness of  this  branch,  so  that  its  sales  have  not,  for 
the  last  five  years,  aggregated  so  largely  as  in  the 
jubilee  year.  And  still  the  material  interests  of 
the  branch  have  not  weakened.  The  area  of  its 
trade  has  been  constantly  widening  and  the  con- 
fidence of  the  denomination  in  it,  and  the  convic- 
tion of  its  indispensableness  to  our   interests  as 


254  APPENDIX. 

Baptists,  have  been  unceasingly  growing  and 
strengthening.  And — what  can,  perhaps,  be  said 
of  no  othei*  branch  house  of  the  society — this  has, 
from  the  first,  steadily  paid  its  expenses  and  also 
added  meanwhile  somewhat  to  its  capital,  so  that 
its  stock  and  all  its  means  of  usefulness  have, 
since  the  opening,  been  much  enlarged. 

In  ten  years  its  sales  aggregated  over  $300,000 
and  the  grants,  though  mainly  issued  from  the 
parent  house  in  Philadelphia,  passing  through 
this  branch  on  the  way  to  the  beneficiaries,  have 
footed  up,  for  publications  alone,  at  least  $25,000. 
In  all,  during  the  first  ten  years  of  its  existence, 
through  this  branch  fully  one-third  of  a  million 
of  dollars  of  Baptist  literature  has  gone  forth  to 
bless  the  world. 

Sometimes  a  single  tract,  costing  but  one  cent, 
or  a  pamphlet,  costing  only  five  cents,  has  been 
the  means  of  the  conversion  of  a  soul,  or  the 
opening  of  the  eyes  of  a  mistaken  disciple  to  see 
the  errors  of  Pedoism. 

Wonderful  has  been  the  influence  of  this  more 
than  $325,000  w^orth  of  literature  going  out  in 
Bibles,  Testaments,  tracts,  pamphlets,  bound  vol- 
umes large  and  small,  libraries,  Sunday-school 
papers,  etc.,  etc.,  all  over  Missouri  and  Southern 
Illinois,  and   Kentucky,  and  Iowa,  and  Kansas, 


APPENDIX.  255 

and  on  and  on  to  the  north  boundary,  to  the  Paci- 
fic, to  the  Gulf,  and  eastward  to  the  AtUmtic. 

But  the  dissemination  of  a  Scripture  literature 
is  not  all  of  the  work  done  in  connection  with  this 
branch  and  the  district  of  which  it  is  the  centre 
and  headquarters.  In  the  ten  years,  by  contri- 
butions of  individuals  and  churches  of  the  district, 
$50,000  have  been  collected  for  the  support  of 
the  benevolent  and  missionary  work  of  the  society* 
such  as  grants  of  publications,  for  colporteurage 
and  Sunday-school  work.  To  this  amount  the 
parent  society  has  always  added,  at  least,  as  much 
more  in  appropriations  for  this  work,  and  for  the 
support  of  the  secretary  and  colleclins^  agents, 
making  $100,000  in  all,  expended  here  in  this 
service  during  the  first  ten  years  of  its  life. 

As  many  as  twenty-five  colporteurs  and  Sunday- 
school  missionaries  have  at  a  time  been  at  work 
within  the  boundaries  of  this  district,  receiving 
their  supplies  from,  and  making  the  regular 
reports  back  to  this  branch. 

After  a  little  more  than  twelve  years'  connec- 
tion with  the  Publication  Society,  as  its  district 
secretary,  over  seven  of  which  St.  Louis  had 
been  his  headquarters  and  during  this  last  period 
he  had  also  served  as  depositary  and  had  charge 


256  APPENDIX. 

of  the  branch  house,  Dr.  »Tohnson  resigned  these 
positions,  and  for  nearly  three  years  gave  himself 
to  an  educational  agency  for  Shurtleff  College; 
but  is  again  connected  with  the  society  at  the 
parent  house  in  Philadelphia,  as  its  general  mis- 
sionary secretary.  Of  his  varied  work  and  the 
extent  of  his  usefulness,  while  in  our  field,  we  all 
well  know. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  Dr.  Johnson,  January 
1st,  1876,  the  only  one  thought  of  as  successor 
to  fill  the  place  of  depositary,  to  have  charge  of 
the  branch  house  and  conduct  the  business  of  the 
society,  was  Mr.  Lewis  E.  Kline,  who,  for  seven 
years,  had  already  served  here  under  his  prede- 
cessor, as  chief  clerk  and  book-keeper  of  the 
branch,  and  who  had  always  been  found  compe- 
tent and  trustworthy.  Under  his  able  manage- 
ment, the  past  six  years,  the  business  has  ad- 
vanced prosperously  and  successfully,  increasing 
in  volume  and  in  field  of  operation. 

To  follow  a  man  with  Dr.  Johnson's  reputation 
was  no  small  matter,  and  required  rare  business 
tact ;  and  further,  since  his  retirement,  there 
being  really  no  district  secretary — and  hence  no 
one  in  the  field — it  was  a  hard  task  to  keep  up  the 
business,  much  more  to  increase  it,  but  Mr.  Kline 


APrE>Dix.  257 

proved  himself  fully  competent  to  the  task. 
Without  the  usual  collegiate  preparation  for  such 
work,  being  wholly  a  self-made  man,  by  active, 
persevering  and  strict  attention  to  business,  and 
often  under  the  most  adverse  circumstances,  he 
has  succeeded  far  beyond  the  expectations  of  the 
most  sanguine;  much  of  the  time  doing  the  work 
of  two  men  ;  always  at  his  post,  not  having  been 
out  of  the  store  one  day  from  1871  to  1877  in- 
clusive, and  only  twenty-three  days  in  eleven 
years,  and  twelve  of  these  were  caused  by  sick- 
ness brought  on  by  overwork.  Such  has  been 
this  man's  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his 
patrons ;  and  by  these  methods  he  has  done  a 
most  wonderful  work  through  the  St.  Louis 
branch  house  of  the  American  Baptist  Publication 
Society.  By  straight-forward,  fair  and  square 
dealing  he  has  passed  tlirough  storms  and  fires 
untouched  by  any  of  said  influences;  in  fact,  *'by 
virtue  of  his  course  he  is  a  monument  and  a 
model  of  patience,  perseverance,  pluck  and  dis- 
creet judgment,"  and  is  deservedly  one  of  the 
most  universally  popular,  and  the  most  highly  es- 
teemed of  business  men  in  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion in  the  West. 

Rev.  D.  T.  Morrill,  of  St.   Louis,  for  a  few 


258  APPENDIX. 

months  succeeded  Dr.  Johnson  as  district  secre- 
tary for  the  benevolent  department,  for  the  col- 
lecting of  funds  from  the  churches  for  missionary 
work,  but  soon  returned  to  his  preferred  work 
as  pastor. 

Upon  Bro.  Morrill's  retirement,  Rev.  C.  E.  W. 
Dobbs,  D.  D.,  of  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  was 
appointed,  who  also  retired  in  a  few  weeks,  be- 
fore he  had  fairly  begun  the  work.  Since  then, 
January,  1877,  Mr.  Kline  has  been  acting  as  dis- 
trict secretary  ;  although  not  actively  prosecuting 
this  department  of  the  society's  work,  he  has  se- 
cured some  handsome  donations  and  bequests,  so 
that  while  this  department  has  not  been  actively 
cultivated,  it  has  not  altogether  gone  by  default. 

**0n  May  1st.  1882,  the  depository  was  moved 
into  the  new  'Baptist  Headquarters,'  in  the  Dor- 
ris  Block,  No.  1109  Olive  Street,  which  is  only 
five  squares  due  north  of  the  Union  Depot.  The 
entire  building  has  been  leased  by  Mr.  Kline, 
and  the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society 
occupies  the  first  floor,  which  has  been  elegantly 
and  tastefully  fitted  up  for  its  purpose.  The 
Central  Baptist  ofhce  is  on  the  second  floor  front 
rooms.  On  the  same  floor  may  be  found  the 
office  of  the  Rev.  S.  W.   Marston,  secretary  of 


APPENDIX.  ?59 

the  Home  Mission  Society  ;  and  also  the  office  of 
Ford's  Christian  Repository.  The  third  floor  of 
the  building  has  been  generously  donated  by  Mr. 
Kline  to  the  use  of  the  Ministers'  Conference, 
Ladies' Missionary  Society  Rooms,  &c."  (From 
Ford's  Christian  Repository,  June,  1882.) 

Altogether,  *' Baptist  Headquarters,"  No.  1109 
Olive  Street,  St.  Louis,  are  conveniently  arranged 
and  admirably  located  and  suited  to  the  ends  of 
their  establishment ;  and  the  Baptists  from  any 
part  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  will  find  both  pleas- 
ure and  profit  in  visiting  them. 


260 


APPENDIX 


APPENDIX 


2(;i 


2<)2 


APPENDIX 


VI.       THE  BAPTIST  SAMTARIUM. 


APPENDIX. 


^Cu 


VII.       DR.  W.  H.  MAYFIELD. 


264 


APPENDIX. 


VIII.       MRS.  W.  H.  MAYFTELD. 


APPENDIX. 


2C)5 


IX.       AMERICAN  BAPTIST  PUB- 
LICATION SOCIETY. 


2<J<1  CONTENTS. 


TABLE     OF     CONTENTS. 


^VITH    A    GFNKnAL     INDEX. 

PAGE. 

Preface 

I— III 

Introductory,  by  W.  H.  Mayfield 

IV— X 

Chapter  I. 

Early  Settlements  of  Southpu-t   Mis- 

souri 

1  -4 

First  Baptist  Settlements 

5 

Defense  of  the  Doctrine  of  Soul  Liberty 

G 

Elder  John  Clark 

t 

Elder  Thomas  Johnson 

8 

David  Green 

9 

First  Baptist  Church 

10 

Hardships  of  First  Families 

11 

Bethel  Church  the     First  Permanent 

Organization 

12 

The  First  House  of  Worship 

13 

A  Memento,  by  Dr.  Maple 

14 

The  Murphy  Family 

18 

The  First  Association  ConTention 

19 

The  First  Gathering  to  Form  an  Asso- 

tion 

21 

Sketch  of  Barron,  Belleviewand  Provi- 

dence Churches 

23 

Elders  Farrar,  Street,  Edwards,   and 

St.  Francois  Church 

24 

COSTESTii.  267 

PACK. 

Constitution  of  the  Bethel  Association  25 
Foreign  Missions  2i\ 
Progress  of  the  Bethel  Association  27 
Churches  Dismissed  to  form  an  Asso- 
ciation in  Arkansas  28 
Eider  Street^s  Residence  29 
Constitution  of  Pendleton  Church,  its 

First  Pastors,  etc.  30 

Crooked  Creek  Church  and  David  Orr  "1 

The  Orr  and  Bailey  Anecdote  '^'2 
The  Prayer  of  New  Hope  and  Little 

Flock  Churches  '>r> 
Hepzebah  Church  unites  with  the  Asso- 
ciation, Wingate  Jackson  its  First 

Pastor  U 

Jackson  and  the  Methodist  Preacher  35 

Obediah  Scott  .    36 

New  Hope  Church  and  its  First  Pastors  37 
The  Faith  and   Order  of  the  Bethel 

Association  Considered  38 
Correspondence  with  the  Little  Piney 

Association  39 
Bethany  Church  the  Home  of  the  r>e- 

loved  Polk  40 
The   Name    "United*'    the    Point    of 

Rallying  41 

Parkerism  42 
Salem  and  Colony  Churches,  and  Peter 

Williams  43 

Secular  Letter  44 

Progress  of  the  Bethel  Association  45 

Feet-washinff  46 


2fi8  CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

The  Itinerant  Work  of  the  Association 

47 

Her  Sunday-school  Work 

48 

The  Bethel  a  Fruitful  Vine 

49 

Elder  Wilson  Thompson 

50 

The  Revival  Period 

51 

Dick's  Baptism 

52 

Thomas  P.  Green 

53-54 

Life  of  Elder  William  Polk 

55 

He  Believed  in  Feet-washing 

66 

The  Ministers  of  the  Bethel   after  the 

War 

67 

The  Elder  and  Younger  Ministers 

58 

Harvey  Young  and  James  Cleavland 

59 

Robert  C.  and  John  Martin 

60 

Elder  B.  F.  Matthews 

61-62 

Chapter  II. 

Cape  Girardeau  Association  63 
Parkerism  in  Cape  Girardeau  Associa- 
tion 64 
Trials  of  the  Civil  War  65 
Elder  John  H.  Clark  66 
His  Life  Sketch  67 
The  AVork  and  Progress  of  Cape  Girar- 
deau 68 
Its  Amended  Constitution  69 
Jackson  Church  .  70 
Cape  Girardeau,  Gravel   Hill,   L^nion, 

Mt.  Moriah  and  others  71 
Elder  Joshua    Hickman,   His    Birth- 
place and  Training                                              72 — 73 

Elder  T.  A.  Bowman  74 

Elders  W.  H.  Wilkes  and  John  Godwin  75 


CONTENTS.  21')!) 

I'ACiE. 

John  T.  Ford  76 
Progress  and  Success  of   CajDe  Girar- 
deau Association,  its  Conclusion  77 — 78 
Chapter  III, 

The  Franklin  Association  79 

Her  Manner  of  Receiving  Churches  80 

Progress  of  the  Franklin  Association  81 

Her  Resolutions  on  Bible  Matters  82 

Feet-washing  83 

Black  River  and  Liberty  Churches  84 
Cotars,  Bethel,  Old  Mines,  Union  and 

St.  Francois  Churches  85 

Farmington  Church  86 

Bismarck  and  James  Williams  87 

Elder  Rutter  88 

Elder  John  Rudy  89 

Farmington  College  90 

Prof.  E.  J.  Jennings  91 92 

Chapter  IV. 

Black  River  Association  93 

Its  Location  94 

Its  Progress  95 
Its  StandstilL     Of   its   Ministers  and 

churches  96 

Elders  Brown  and  Stevens  97 

John  Floyd  and  Biographical  Sketches  98—99 
Chapter  V. 

The  St.  Francois  Association  100 

Its  Constituent  Churches  and  Ministers  101 

Southeast  Baptist  Convention  102 
The    Revival    Period,    and   Territory 

Occupiod  103 


270  CONTENTS. 


PAS«. 

Its  First  General  Financial  Agent 

104 

Its  General  Movement 

105 

Sketch  of  Aged  Ministers  and  Church- 

es, Big  Creek 

106 

Castor  Church  and  its  First  Pastors 

107 

Marble  Hill  Church 

108 

Trace  Creek  and  its  Trials 

109 

Report  of  Committee  on  its  Difficulty 

110 

Report  Considered 

111 

Charges  Against  T.  J.  llawls 

112 

Standing  of  Ministers 

113 

Sketches  of  Leading  Old  Ministers 

lU 

Carter  T.  Graham 

115 

Elders  Huse  and  Croley 

116 

Elder  William  Settle 

117 

His  Place  of  Settlement 

118 

Pinckney  Graham 

119 

Judge  E.  L.  Graham 

120 

New  Churches  and  Ministers,  Twelve 

Mile  and  Shady  Grove 

121 

Elder    Johnson  and    the   Hard-Shell 

Baptist 

122 

Mt.  Carmel  Church  and  Location 

123 

Big  White  Water  Church 

124 

Bethel  and  Fredericktown  Churches 

125 

New  Salem  Church 

126 

Elder  M.  Robins 

127 

Elder  Joseph  Ilembree 

128 

Elder  B.  L.  Bowman 

129 

Elder  V.  T.  Settle 

130 

Little  White  Water  Church 

131 

G.  W.  Marfield 

183 

CONTENTS.  271 


?AGE 

The  Mayfield  Family 

133 

Pleasant  Hill  Church 

134 

Dry  Creek  Church 

135 

J.  P.  Revelle  and  W.  R.  Moore 

136 

Ebenezer  Church  and  Elder  London 

137 

Our  Apology 

138 

Progress  of  the  St,  Francois  Association 

139 

Proposition  for    the    Mayfield-Smith 

Academy 

140 

Its  Committee  Appointed 

141 

The  Work  Suspended  at  Smithville 

142 

Removal  to  Marble  Hill 

143 

Leading  Donors 

144 

Location  of  the  Academy 

145 

Site  of  the  Academy 

146 

Its  Trustees 

147 

Prof.   T.  W.   Tate,   First    Principal, 

Teachers 

148 

Rev.  H.  S.  Tong,  Colporteur 

149 

Prof.  D.  W.  Graves 

150 

His  Education  and  Work 

151 

Prof.  J.  S.  Gashwiler,   His  Education 

and  Work 

152—153 

Chapter  VI. 

Cane    Creek    Association,     and     its 

Formation    and  Progress,   W.  H. 

Reaves 

155—156 

New  Associations  Formed 

157 

Chapter  VII. 

Jefferson  County  Association 

158 

Bethlehem,    Swashing    and    Calvary 

Churches 

159 

272  CONTEXTS. 

FJL.GE. 

David  Stites  160 

Present  Ministers  of  this  Association  161 

Chapter  VIII. 

Wayne  county  Association,  its  Pro- 
gress 162—163 
Of  its  First  Leading  Ministers  164. 
Elder  Mark  A.  Taylor  165 
Rev.  Jesse  Wallis  166 
His  Labor,  Faithfulness  and  Sacrifices  167 — 168 
Chapter  IX. 

Central  Missouri  and  Concord  Asso- 
ciations, with  Pennywise  and  his 
replies  169—170 

The  Central  Missouri,  when  Organized 

and  AVho  by  171 

Concord,  the  Tenth  Organized  172 

Its  Churches  and  Location  173 

Its  Experience  in  Correspondence  174 

The  Curious  Dealings  with   a  Church 

and  Mnister  176 

Chapter  X. 

Charleston  and  New  ISIadrid  Associa- 
tions 176 
The  Field  of  the  Charleston  Associa- 
tion 177 
The  New  Madrid  178 
Elder  I.  E.  Anderson,  of  the  Charles- 
ton Association  179 
Its  First  Moderator  180 
Chapter  XI. 

General  or  Freewill  Baptists  181 


CONTENTS.  273 


PAGE. 

Their  Peculiar  Faith  and  Practice 

182 

Their  Rule  of  Government 

183 

Their  Correspondence 

184 

R.  S.  Duncan's  Account  of  Freewillism 

in  Southwest  Missouri 

185 

Sketch  of  Campbellism 

186 

It  is  not  a  Baptist  Institution 

187 

Chapter  XII. 

General    Miscellaneous    Matters,    the 

Tong  Family 

188 

William  Toug,  His  Great  Family 

189 

Henry  D.  Tong  and  John  Baptist  Tong 

190—192 

An  Anecdote 

193 

Important  Items  of  the  Seven  Dispen- 

sations of  the  World 

194 

Second,  Third  and  Fourth  Ages  of  the 

World 

195 

The  Fifth  and  Six 

196 

The  Seventh 

197 

General  Summary  of  the  Seven   Ages 

of  the  World,  from  the  Creation  to 

the  year  1887 

198 

The  Estimated  Population  of  the  Earth 

and  Their  Religious  Divisions 

199 

Baptist  Contributions  and  Investments 

200 

And  Analysis  of  the  Old  and  New  Tes- 

taments 

201 

Chapter  X HI. 

Baptist  Periodicals 

202 

Central  Baptist 

203 

Its  Chief  Editors 

204 

Rev.  Wm.  H.  Williams 

206 

274  CONTENTS. 


PAGK. 

The  American  Baptist 

206 

Additions  to  its  Editorial  Staff 

207 

Elder  D.  B.  Ray 

208 

Ford''s  Christian  Bejyository 

209 

Its  Aim  and  Purpose 

210 

The  National  Baptist  Publishing  Com- 

pany 

211 

Date  of  its  Charter 

212 

History  of  Missouri  Baptists 

213 

The  Spirit  and  Object  of  the  Book 

214 

Its  Author 

215 

Chapter  XIV. 

Father  John  Clark,  the  Methodist,  and 

Other  Ministers 

216 

His  Education  and  Religious  Character 

217 

How  He  Became  a  Baptist 

218 

Wm.  D.  Hamilton  and  Baker 

219 

Rev.  J.  C.  Perkins 

220 

Elders  Wm.  S.  Huff  and  John  Huff 

221 

Rev.  F.  M.  Shoush  and  His  Ordination 

222  -223 

Elder  J.  N.  B.  Hepler 

224 

Elder  T.  L.  Braswell 

225 

The  Alphabetical  Order  of  the  Asso- 

ciations 

226 

Chapter  XV. 

Baptist  Sanitarium,  Dr.  AYm.  H.  May- 

field  and  Mrs.  Ellen  May  field 

227 

Location  of  Sanitarium 

228 

Healing  of  the  Body 

229 

Owned  by  the  Denomination 

230 

Testimonials 

231—234 

Wm.  H.  Mayfield,  M.  D. 

235—238 

CONTENTS.  275 

PAGE. 

Mrs.  Ellen  C.  Mayfield,  Matron  239—240 

Chapter  XVI. 

Conclusive  Remarks  of  the  Author  241 — 248 

Behold  the  Setting  Sun  249 

The  Christian's  Future  Home  250 

Appendix. 

I.  American      Baptist     Publication 

Society  251—269 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

II.  G.  W.  Mayfield.    III.    Mrs.  Polly 
Mayfield  260 

IV.    John  T.  Sikes.     V.    Mayfield- 

Smith  Academy  261 

VI.  The  Baptist  Sanitarium  262 

VII.  Dr.  W.  H.  Mayfield  263 
Vni.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Mayfield  264 
IX.    American     Baptist    Publication 

Society  265 

Table  of  Contents  266—275 


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